Hematological and iron phenotype of Hbb^th3/+mice with BM-specific deletion of Tfr2 fed an ID diet.Hbb^th3/+ and Tfr2^BMKO/Hbb^th3/+ mice were fed an ID diet (<3 mg/kg carbonyl iron; SAFE) starting 9 weeks after transplantation until sacrifice 22 weeks after BMT. Complete blood count was analyzed monthly, whereas a more complete phenotypic analysis of mice was performed at sacrifice. In the figure are graphed: (A) RBC number; (B) Hb levels; (C) percentage of Ter119⁺ cells on alive cells and subpopulation composition (gated clusters: proerythroblasts [I], basophilic erythroblasts [II], polychromatic erythroblasts [III], orthochromatic erythroblasts and immature reticulocytes [IV], and mature red cells [V]) based on Ter119/CD44 expression and forward scatter (reflecting cell size) both in the BM and in the spleen; (D) TS; (E) LIC and (F) SIC. The dotted red line indicates mean value in wt IB mice.⁴⁰  Bars indicate SE. Asterisks refer to statistically significant differences between age-matched Hbb^th3/+ and Tfr2^BMKO/Hbb^th3/+ mice: *P < .05; **P < .01; ***P < .005.