Originally published in Nature 156, 534 (1945). 



70. LIFE-CYCLE OF THE RED CORPUSCLES 



OF THE HEN 



G. Hevesy and J. Ottesen 



From the Institute for Theoretical Physics, Univeisity of Copenhagen 



The life-cycle of the mammalian red corpuscles is not known with cer- 

 tainty. Values varying between 30 and 200 days are recorded. One would 

 expect the problem to be easily solved by making use of an isotopic 

 indicator, that is, by labelling the corpuscles. In trying to find a suitable 

 indicator, great difficulties are encountered due to the fact that almost 

 every compound present in the corpuscles is renewed at a comparatively 

 rapid rate. Only such labelled molecules which have a longer life-time 

 than the red corpuscles in which they are located can be used as indi- 

 cators. Iron atoms incorporated with haemoglobin molecules remain 

 unchanged duriug the life- time of the red corpuscles^^\ Hahn and his 

 colleagues^^\ however, found that the iron atoms contained in the debris 

 of the haemoglobin of decayed corpuscles are preferentially used in the 

 formation of new corpuscles. This fact makes radioactive iron unsuitable 

 for the determination of the life-cycle of the red corpuscles. 



We found desoxyribose nucleic acid phosphorus to be a suitable indi- 

 cator for the determination of the life-cycle of nucleated corpuscles. 

 In contradistinction to desoxyribose nucleic acid molecules present in 

 some organs, those found in the red corpuscles of the hen are not 

 renewed at an appreciable rate. In experiments in vitro, in which hen 

 blood was shaken in an oxygen atmosphere in the presence of labelled 

 sodium phosphate, no active desoxyribose nucleic acid was found to be 

 formed, in contradistinction to other active phosphorus compounds. 

 Furthermore, activity was absent in the desoxyribose nucleic acid 

 present in the circulating red corpuscles of the hen up to four days after 

 administration of radioactive phosphate. 



Hen corpuscles, labelled by their active desoxyribose nucleic acid 

 content, can be used in two different ways. We can administer, for 



(i^Hahn, p. F., Bale, W, F., Ross, J. F., Hettig, R. A., and Whipple, 



G. H., Science, 92, 131 (1940). 



^2) Hahn, P. F., Bale W., F., and Balfour, W. M., Amer. J. Physiol., 135, 

 800 (1941- -42). 



