Oxygen consumption and tissue oxygen tension as a function of the hematocrit in polycythemic mice

Abstract

Partial pressures of oxygen in subcutaneous gas pockets and oxygen consumption of mice with hematocrit ratio from 25 to 75 and exposed to various degrees of hy­poxic hypoxia were determined.
Higher than normal values for both parameters were found in plethoric ex-hypoxic mice even in mild hypoxia (from 25 to 30 % of normal). The implications of these findings on the oxygen transport capacity of plethoric mice and on the role of ery­ thropoietin in the control of erythropoiesis are discussed.