Figure 6. Both erythroid progenitors and megakaryocytes are increased in Vhl^R/R spleens.

(A) Vhl^R/R spleens appeared slightly darker in color than WT and Vhl^R/+ littermates. Scale bar: 1 cm. (B) Representative sections of WT and Vhl^R/R spleens stained with H&E revealed a disruption of the normal splenic architecture in Vhl^R/R mice. Erythroid cells are indicated by white arrows, and megakaryocytes by black arrows. Original magnification, ×5 (top); ×40 (bottom). Scale bars: 200 μm; 20 μm. (C) Quantification of the increase in megakaryocytes in Vhl^R/R mice. *P < 0.006. (D) Representative flow cytometry plots of WT and Vhl^R/R spleens stained for CD71 and Ter119. (E and F) The percentage of CD71⁺Ter119⁺ erythroid progenitors was increased 6-fold (12%) in Vhl^R/R spleens (E), corresponding to a 9% (1.2-fold) decrease in CD19⁺ cells (F). *P < 0.05. (G) The percentage of CD41⁺ cells was also greater in Vhl^R/R spleens (2.5-fold). *P < 0.05.