Certain Endocrine Aspects of the Anemia of Pregnancy in the Rabbit

¹ From the Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana

The anemia of late pregnancy in the rabbit was found to be normochromic and normocytic and appeared to be due to a hemodilution since both the blood and plasma volume were increased. No significant change in the thiocyanate space was observed. A similar anemia was induced by treatment with 1 mg of extradiol daily except that an increase in the thiocyanate space was also noted. Progesterone alone had no effect, but modified the action of estradiol on blood and plasma volumes when administered in combination. The effect of estradiol was inhibited at a progesterone to estradiol ratio of 4:1, augmented at a ratio of 40:1, and unaltered at a ratio of 20:1. None of the combination treatments induced an anemia or a significant change in the thiocyanate space. It was concluded that although estrogen and progesterone may play important roles in the fluid metabolism of the pregnant female, they are not the sole etiologic agents in the anemia of pregnancy in the rabbit.

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