Abstract
Studies were performed to examine the erythropoietin activity during pregnancy and at the time of delivery with one hundred and thirty one specimens of different lunar month and thirteen paired sera from women at the time of delivery and from umbilical cord of neonates.
Bioassay methods utilizing starved rats and polycythemic mice were employed for this study.
No increased erythropoietin activity was found during the first half period of pregnancy. However, elevated erythropoietin were observed after fifth lunar month which increased remarkably at seventh month lasting until full gestation.
The distribution rate of cases with elevated erythropoietin was much higher in the group assayed with polycythemic mice as compared with that of starved rats.
Sera obtained from mothers during delivery revealed higher erythropoietin activity than those from cord blood of neonates in most cases.
No significant relationship between hemoglobin concentration of peripheral blood and erythropoietin level was observed.
