Plasma Volume and Total Erythrocyte Volume in the Molybdenotic Rabbit

Abstract

Total erythrocyte volumes (51Cr label) of rabbits fed toxic quantities of sodium molybdate decreased relative to control values but plasma volumes (125I-albumin label) increased such that the blood volumes of molybdenotic rabbits were restored to levels which may have been expected had these rabbits grown normally. With severe losses in body weight in molybdenotic rabbits, the use of packed cell volumes and body weight values together as a substitute for total erythrocyte volumes led to errors reaching a 25% overestimate for control and a 20% underestimate for test groups in repeat studies. The F cells ratio was unchanged in chronic molybdate poisoning indicating that no redistribution of erythrocytes and plasma had occurred in the vascular system. Mean F cells ratio for 51 test and control rabbits was 0.746 ± 0.009 (S.E.M.).