Erythropoietin,testosterone, and thyroxine in the erythropoietic response of the snake, Xenochrophis piscator

The erythropoietic response of snakes was examined after injecting human urinary erythropoietin (Ep), testosterone propionate (TP), and l-thyroxine (T₄), separately and in combinations, into starved ophids. The effect of starvation was reflected by a decrease in the number of erythrocytes, a fall in hemoglobin concentration, and a decline in hematocrit. Statistically significant elevation of erythrocyte number, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit was observed at 24 hr following the administration of Ep + T₄, and Ep + TP + T₄ into starved ophids. The erythrocyte number was also increased by T₄ treatment at 24 hr. Furthermore, while T₄ and Ep individually increased the red blood cell number at 168 hr, T₄, TP + T₄, and Ep + TP + T₄ elevated the hemoglobin concentration and Ep + T₄ and Ep + TP + T₄ increased the hematocrit value. It is suggested that the influence of any one of the hormones utilized in the present study on blood morphology of fasted snakes depends to a greater extent on the presence or absence of the other hormone(s).