Identification and characterization of RBC2 mice. (A) Jaundiced postnatal day 1 RBC2/RBC2 pup (→) and littermate controls from an RBC2/+ × RBC2/+ mating. (B) Massive splenomegaly in an RBC2/RBC2 animal. (C,D) Splenic histology from wild-type (wt) and RBC2/RBC2 mice. (E,F) Peripheral blood smears from wt and RBC2/RBC2 mice. (G,H) SEM of erythrocytes from wt and RBC2/RBC2 mice. (I) In vivo red cell survival study in wt and RBC2/RBC2 mice. The P value was determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and less than .05 was considered significant. (J) Serum bilirubin measured at 52 days in 4 wild-type and 4 RBC2/RBC2 animals. Student t test (P = .023). (K) Liver iron measured at 29 and 52 days in 4 wild-type and 4 RBC2/RBC2 animals. Error bars represent SD in all figures. Student t tests were performed: 29 days measurement (P = .045); and for the 52 day dataset (P = 1.05 × 10−5). P values less than .05 were considered significant.
