Erythropoietin (EPO) is a Hormone that stimulates Red Blood Cell (RBC) production and is normally produced in the kidney or liver, but primarily in the kidney. A Hormone is a chemical messenger released by cells into the blood that affects a distant part of the body. Erythropoietin travels through plasma to bone marrow increasing Red Blood Cell production that acts on an enzyme. An enzyme is a protein molecule that acts as a catalyst (something that speeds up reactions) for chemical reactions in living systems. EPO increases Red Blood Cell production, in theory, causing more oxygen to be put into active muscles resulting in increased muscle endurance.
EPO can be increased through natural causes in the human body or through a method called ‘Blood Doping’. Blood Doping is usually related to athletics. Athletes can do one of two main ways to increase Red Blood Cells in the body. They could remove a fair amount of their blood well before a competition, separate the red blood cells from plasma, and then re-insert the red blood cells prior to the competition. Another way to increase Red Blood Cells is to inject the drug Erythropoietin. Artificial EPO is produced by recombinant DNA technique
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This first became evident during the 1968 summer Olympics in Mexico City. Treatment for this disorder can be also similar to ‘blood doping’ for athletes. However, problems came about not because the athletes did ‘blood doping’ but the way the procedure went. Although these are not all conclusively linked to Erythropoietin use, it is still a possibility. Athletes who push themselves to be the best that they can be should be awarded. The more legal way to increase erythropoietin is to train when there is a lack of oxygen, usually at high altitudes. Some of the blood was tainted and after the Games some contracted hepatitis. They did not have enough time when they took out their blood and have new blood cells be produced thus, going through with the transfusion was pointless. There are not enough oxygen transporters thus not enough oxygen can be circulated around the body. When the United States participated in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, their cycling team in previous years did not do too well and decided to try ‘blood doping’. Erythropoietin is stimulated by both Androgens (Steroid which produces secondary male sexual characteristics) and growth hormone. Since the blood is too thick, the heart has problems pumping the blood through its arteries and aorta. Some problems are heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, and death. They did exceptionally well bringing home a United States Cycling record of 9 medals. Anemia is when there is less than the normal amount of Red Blood Cells in the blood.
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