Dose-related enhancement of erythropoiesis by sulfhydryl compounds and its reversal with a thiol inhibitor.

Erythropoietin-mediated erythrocyte development from bone marrow of hypertransfused rats was significantly greater when the culture medium contained an optimal dose of certain sulfhydryls. This stimulatory action was attributed to the presence of SH groups because erythroblast numbers fell to control levels when the culture contained the thiol inhibitor, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate.