Acetylsalicylic acid antagonizes the bleeding-induced changes in hemoglobin proportions in normal adult rats.

Normal adult Sprague-Dawley rats were made anemic by repeated phlebotomy. Ion-exchange chromatography of anemic blood showed newborn like hemoglobin proportions, involving the same six hemoglobin components as is found when newborn and adult blood are compared. However, acetylsalicylic acid intake during anemia failed to demonstrate the changes in hemoglobin proportions, either totally or partially, depending upon the doses. Since acetylsalicylic acid inhibits prostaglandin synthesis, the data suggest that one or more prostaglandins may be involved in the process of reverse switching of hemoglobin in adult rat erythroid cells during erythropoietic stress.