AJP - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, Vol 236, Issue 3 422-H426, Copyright © 1979 by American Physiological Society
Influence of albuterol on erythropoietin production and erythroid progenitor cell activation
F. Przala, D. M. Gross, B. Beckman and J. W. Fisher
The effect of albuterol, a potent beta2-adrenergic agonist, on kidney
production of erythropoietin (Ep) was studied. Its effects on erythroid
colony (CFU-E) formation in vitro in rabbit bone marrow cultures were also
assessed. Albuterol produced a significant increase in plasma Ep levels in
conscious rabbits following 7 h intravenous infusion (50
(microgram/kg)/min). This effect was blocked by pretreatment of the rabbits
with butoxamine (5 mg/kg ip), a potent beta2-adrenergic blocker. Albuterol
in doses of 10(-10) to 10(-8) M in combination with Ep was also found to
produce a significant increase in the numbers of CFU-E in the plasma clot
culture system of rabbit bone marrow. This effect was blocked completely by
DL-propranolol (10(-8) M) and by butoxamine (10(-8) M). The data presented
suggest that albuterol, a potent activator of beta2-adrenergic receptors,
increases kidney production of Ep in vivo and also produces a direct effect
in combination with Ep on the proliferation of the erythroid progenitor
cell compartment.
