Erythropoietic Capacity of Short-Term Mouse Marrow Cultures2

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Maintenance of erythropoietic activity of mouse bone marrow cells in short-term culture was investigated as part of a study of postradiation environment. Erythropoictic activity was measured by Fe59 uptake by spleens of lethally irradiated mice given injections of normal or cultured marrow cells. Medium composition and physical factors of marrow culture were investigated. Best maintenance at 37° C was obtained with TC 199 + 25 percent mammalian serum, and there was a broad pH optimum (6.6–8.0). There was an inverse relation between maintenance of erythropoietic activity and culture temperature from 30 to 45° C. Maintenance was improved at temperatures of 2 to 30° C. Decline of activity in culture reflects inability of the stem cell compartment to maintain and replenish itself.