Some comparisons of the kinetic properties of femoral and splenic haemopoietic stem cells.

Abstract

ABSTRACTA slightly different radiosensitivity is confirmed between colony forming units (CFU) in the femur as opposed to those of the spleen. The recovery pattern of the CFU in the femur and in the spleen following sublethal doses of radiation can be markedly different, depending on the radiation dose, particularly concerning the postirradiation ‘dip’. The turnover state of splenic CFU appears to be greater in normal animals than that of the femoral CFU. Hypertransfusion doubles the splenic CFU by the fourth day, while only marginally affecting femoral CFU. Erythropoietin, while increasing the CFU turnover significantly in both femur and spleen of the polycythaemic animal, also increases femoral but not splenic CFU.