Changes in the expression of the heme-regulated eIF-2 alpha kinase (HRI), heat shock proteins (Hsps, Hsp90, and 70) and their associated cohorts (p60 and p23) were studied in maturing rabbit reticulocytes during recovery from anemia. Reticulocytosis was induced by injection of N-acetylphenylhydrazine or by phlebotomy from the ear vein, and circulating red blood cells were fractionated on histopaque density gradients. Northern and Western blot analyses indicated that HRI and hsps mRNA and protein content gradually decreased during maturation of reticulocytes into erythrocytes. Reduction in levels of hsps and HRI was also observed when cells of same age group (density) were compared as the animals recovered from the anemia. Low hematocrits correlated with high levels of hsps expression and with increasing hematocrits hsps expression decreased. Under the conditions used to quantify these protein levels, Hsc70 and p60 were detected in erythrocytes of fully recovered animals. Maintenance of Hsc70 and p60 suggests important ongoing roles for these hsps in protecting the structure and function of proteins in erythrocytes lacking transcriptional and translational machinery.