Autocannibalism: The Etiology of Nerve-Resection Anemia

1. The finding of Hollán that severe anemia follows nerve resection in rats has been confirmed.

2. By the use of total-body labeling with radioiron, it has been demonstrated that this anemia is due to blood loss.

3. The blood lost by the nerve-sectioned rat is found in the stools, but autopsy reveals no source of gastrointestinal bleeding.

4. Anemia occurs only in animals with excoriation of the denervated foot. Anemia may be precipitated by withdrawing food for 48 hours. Hollán has found that amputation of the denervated limb prevents onset of the anemia.

5. It is concluded that nerve-resection anemia in the rat is due to autocannibalism of the denervated foot.