Human bone marrow colony growth in agar‐gel

TLDR

The study presents a method for cultivating human bone marrow cell colonies in agar‑gel medium. Human bone marrow aspirates (2×10^5 cells) are plated on feeder layers of 1×10^6 peripheral white blood cells, producing 32–102 colonies per 2×10^5 cells. The colonies are predominantly granulocytic, grow more slowly than mouse marrow but reach 500–1500 cells by days 12–16.

Abstract

Abstract A technique for growing human bone marrow cell colonies in agar‐gel medium is described. “Feeder layers” containing 1 × 10 6 normal human peripheral white blood cells are used as the stimulus for colony growth. Human bone marrow aspirates are collected in heparinized syringes and plated as 2 × 10 5 cells on “feeder layers.” Normal human bone marrow yields 32–102 colonies per 2 × 10 5 cells plated. Colonies are almost exclusively granulocytic. Growth rate of colonies is slower than with mouse bone marrow but colonies reach a comparable size (500–1500 cells) at days 12–16.