CULTURE OF HUMAN MARROW; STUDIES OF THE EFFECTS OF ROENTGEN-RAYS

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Abstract
Cultures of human bone marrow in vaccine vials were mixed thoroughly and about 8 c.c. of the culture placed in each of 6 or 7 vials side by side in a lead-lined box divided into compartments. One of these cultures was left as a control; the others were given varying doses or wave lengths of irradiation through a port in the lead coyer of the box. The number of each type of cell was detd. in each culture at intervals and expressed in % of the total number of the same type of cell in the control at the same time. The lymphocytes decreased in numbers first; then the pro-granulocytes (promyelocytes) and then after successively increasing the time periods the successively more mature cells of granulocyte series. When colchicine was used as an indicator of the effects on mitosis it was noted that many progranulocytes were arrested in the metaphase of mitosis in the culture containing colchicine alone, but that in the irradiated culture containing colchicine there were fewer mitoses. The marrow culture method makes possible quantitative studies of the effects of irradiation on living human cells of different radio-sensitivity and stages of maturity. This preliminary study of several of the possible variables in roentgen-ray therapy indicates that this method should give information of value and suggests that irradiation in the doses employed in clinical roentgen therapy does not directly kill cells but does inhibit multiplication resulting in a gradual decrease in the cell populations as they mature and die. Colchicine should prove a valuable indicator of the effects of irradiation on mitotic division.

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