Studies on the Effects of Corticosteroid and ACTH on the Blood and Bone Marrow Pictures.
Part I. Results Obtained in Normal Rabbits Administered with Corticosteroid or with ACTH
1976 Volume 28 Issue 4 Pages 835-863
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1976 Volume 28 Issue 4 Pages 835-863
Although corticosteroid and ACTH are frequently used for the treatment of various diseases, including hematologic disorders such as aplastic anemia, the opinions concerning the effects of these hormones on hematopoietic function remain divided.
With a view to contributing towards the rational use of these hormone s, the author attempted to investigate their effects on the blood and bone marrow pictures both in normal rabbits and in those with impaired bone marrow. Short-term administration: β-methasone (βM) (2 mg/kg/day) or ACTH (8.3 units/kg/day), was administered to normal rabbits five days, and their blood and bone marrow pictures were examined. Long-term administration: β-methasone was given for 77 days (1 mg/kg/day for 36 days followed by 2 mg/kg/day for 41 days) prior to examination. The results obtained are as follows:
I. Short-term administration
1) The periph eral blood picture The red cell count (R C C) was decreased by,βM, but slightly increased by ACTH. The color index (CI) and the mean red cell diameter (MCD) was increased by βM, and decreased by ACTH. The white cell count (WCC) temporarily rose by treatment with either hormone, and thereafter went down. The neutrophil coun t (NC) generally went parallel with the WCC. The average segmentation r a te (SUGIYAMA) of the neutrophils increased during treatment with βM, while ACTH caused the appearance of metamyelocytes with a left shift of the segmentation rate after a transient shift to right. The lymphocyte count (LC) was decreased by W, while the changes caused by ACTH were inconsistent.
2) The bone marrow picture The bone marrow p i c ture showed an increase in erythroblasts after the administration of either hormone. On the other hand, the myeloid cells showed a d e crease which recovered to exceed the former count ten days after cessation of the hor mone dosage.
II. Long -term administration The long-term βM administration yielded no recovery of the blood picture, except for a transient ascent of the WCC and NC when the daily dosage was increased. T he erythroblasts in the bone marrow decreased after the long-term administration.
