Evidence that interleukin-6 does not play a role in the stimulation of platelet production after induction of acute thrombocytopenia

The induction of thrombocytopenia results in elevated levels of thrombopoietin (TPO), which can be detected in the plasma of experimental animals. Acute, severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 5% of control) was produced in mice by the administration of either guinea pig or rabbit antimouse platelet antiserum. Control mice received equal volumes of normal serum. At various times after the induction of thrombocytopenia (0.5, 1, 2, 3, …