Abstract
A method is described for the quantitative cloning of syngeneic hematopoietic cells in the spleens of mice or rats pretreated with a combination of cyclophosphamide and busulfan. A linear relationship was demonstrated between the number of nucleated cells injected and the number of macroscopically visible surface spleen colonies counted 7 days later.
Six types of spleen colonies were encountered: megakaryocyte, granulocyte, erythrocyte, erythrocyte variant, mixed and undifferentiated. When compared to the mouse the rat showed an earlier differentiation of cells as well as a decrease in the percentage of megakaryocyte colonies.
This technic produces results, as far as cloning efficiency and morphology of spleen colonies are concerned, similar to those described in the mouse and rat following X-irradiation. The major advantage of the method is its independence from the requirements of x-ray facilities.
