On the Nature of Castle’s Hemopoietic Factor

Abstract

Abstract 1. Normal gastric juice (intrinsic factor) and vitamin B12 together form a thermolabile hemopoietic factor which ripens megaloblasts in vitro, both gastric juice and B12 alone being inactive. 2. The hemopoietic factor in normal serum which ripens megaloblasts in vitro also appears to be thermolabile, heating to 56 C. for 2 hours destroying some of its activity. 3. The relationship of these factors is discussed and an extra-gastric as well as a gastric source of intrinsic factor is postulated.