AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE B-LYMPHOPOIETIC CAPACITY OF LONG-TERM BONE-MARROW CULTURES

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 48  (1) , 9-15
Abstract
A suspension of nucleated femoral (BALB/c .times. CBA) bone marrow cells was inoculated, either into glass flasks or flasks coated with a preformed syngeneic marrow derived monolayer, and cultured for long periods in media supplemented with hydrocortisone sodium succinate. Long-term analysis of the lymphoid status of these cultures was then carried out while they were producing CFU-S [colony forming unit, spleen] cells. T cells expressing the Thy 1 marker were present for up to 10 wk and surface Ig positive (sIgM+) B cells were present for at least 6 wk; pre-B cells were present for no longer than 1 wk. Pre-B, B and T cells were all present at levels well below those found in normal, healthy bone marrow. When cultures were free of both B and pre-B lymphocytes, the cells collected from them were used to reconstitute lethally irradiated mice. Reconstitution was of the type (A .times. B) .fwdarw. A, and .apprx. 2 mo. elapsed before reconstituted animals were analyzed. Despite the loss of pre-B cells from these cultures, precursors of B lymphocytes at earlier stages of differentiation were present for long periods but were only capable of differentiation into sIgM+ B cells in vivo.