CFU-S Repopulation after Low-Dose Whole-Body Radiation

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Abstract
Whole-body exposure of BDF1 mice to 50 rad X-irradiation results in an initial depletion of femoral CFU-S [colony forming unit-spleen] to .apprx. 50%, followed by a further reduction and then recovery to .apprx. 50% during the 1st wk. Thereafter the population remains well below control levels (apart from a transient rise at about 3 wk after irradiation) for several wk. A similar prolonged depletion was found as a result of exposure to 150 rad X-rays. The GM-CFU [granulocyte-macrophage CFU] population was depressed in a similar way, and there was no evidence of complete recovery throughout 3 1/2 wk following the exposure. The prolonged depletion does not occur simply in the femur since the vertebral marrow reacts, in general, in the same way as the femoral marrow. Attempts to accelerate recovery of CFU-S to 100% by administration of various agents which affect hemopoiesis in some way were all unsuccessful. These somewhat unexpected findings are discussed in terms of radiation damage inflicted on both the stem-cell population and its cellular environment.