Effects of betamethasone on rodent erythropoiesis

Abstract

Normal, fasted and polycythemic mice were treated with high doses of betametha­ sone. Administration of the steroid results in a fall of splenic erythropoiesis and a di­ minished spleen responses to erythropoietin in fasted and polycythemic mice. The effect on bone marrow erythropoiesis varies from an increase in the normal group to a decrease in the fasted condition and no change in the polycythemic group. Bone marrow response to erythropoietin is not affected by betamethasone.