ABSTRACT
A method is described for the colonial growth, in semi-solid medium, of erythropoietin-responsive erythroid cell precursors. The erythroid cell precursors were isolated by immune hemolysis from fetal mouse liver. Both the number of precursor cells triggered to proliferate and differentiate, and the size of the erythropoietic colonies formed, are directly dependent upon the concentration of erythropoietin included in the culture.
Subject(s)
Erythropoiesis/drug effects , Erythropoietin/pharmacology , Animals , Cell Differentiation/drug effects , Cell Division/drug effects , Cells, Cultured , Culture Media , Fetus , Hemoglobins/biosynthesis , In Vitro Techniques , Liver , Mice , Mice, Inbred StrainsABSTRACT
Immature erythroid cell precursors from 12- and 13-day fetal mouse livers were concentrated by differential antibody-mediated hemolysis. The effect of erythropoietin on these purified erythroid cell precursors was studied in vitro. Addition of erythropoietin stimulates erythroid cells to proliferate, and to differentiate to cells that actively synthesize hemoglobin. This erythropoietin-induced erythropoiesis is sustained in culture for at least 48 hr.