Question

What is erythropoietin and what does it do

Answer 1

Erythropoietin is a substance produced by the kidney that leads to the formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow. The kidney cells that make EPO are specialized and are sensitive to low oxygen levels in the blood coming into the kidney.

1. Erythropoietin stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. The resulting rise in red cells increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

2. As the prime regulator of red cell production, erythropoietin's major functions are to:

Promote the development of red blood cells.

Initiate the synthesis of hemoglobin, the molecule within red blood cells that transports oxygen.

Chemically, erythropoietin a protein with an attached sugar (a glycoprotein). It is one of a number of similar glycoproteins that serve as stimulants for the growth of specific types of blood cells in the bone marrow.