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Definition of "erythropoietin" [erythropoietin]

  • A glycoprotein hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells by stem cells in bone marrow. Produced mainly by the kidneys, it is released in response to decreased levels of oxygen in body tissue. (noun)
  • Epoetin alfa. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "erythropoietin" in a sentence
  • "Epogen is an artificial form of a hormone called erythropoietin that stimulates the production of red blood cells."
  • "For example, if a person loses blood, a growth factor called erythropoietin which is produced in the kidneys circulates in the bloodstream and tells the bone marrow to manufacture more blood cells."
  • "The kidneys release a hormone called erythropoietin, commonly known as EPO, which stimulates the production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells."