erythropoietin

[ ih-rith-roh-poi-i-tn, -poi-eet-n ]
/ ɪˌrɪθ roʊˈpɔɪ ɪ tn, -pɔɪˈit n /

noun

Biochemistry. a hormone that stimulates production of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the bone marrow, released in response to low levels of oxygen in the tissues.
a synthetic form of this hormone, used as a performance-enhancing drug.

Origin of erythropoietin

First recorded in 1945–50; erythropoiet(ic) + -in2

Words nearby erythropoietin

erythroplasia, erythroplasia of queyrat, erythropoiesis, erythropoietic porphyria, erythropoietic protoporphyria, erythropoietin, erythroprosopalgia, erythropsia, erythropsin, erythrorrhexis, erythruria

British Dictionary definitions for erythropoietin

erythropoietin
/ (ɪˌrɪθrəʊpɔɪˈiːtɪn) /

noun

a hormone, secreted by the kidney in response to low levels of oxygen in the tissues, that increases the rate of erythropoiesis. It has been used as a performance-enhancing drug for athletes and racehorses Abbreviation: EPO

Medical definitions for erythropoietin

erythropoietin
[ ĭ-rĭth′rō-poi-ē′tĭn ]

n.

A glycoprotein hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells by bone marrow.
Epoetin alfa.

Scientific definitions for erythropoietin

erythropoietin
[ ĭ-rĭth′rō-poi-ē′tĭn ]

A glycoprotein hormone, secreted mostly by the kidneys in adults and the liver in children, that stimulates stem cells in the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.