title: The physical separation of three subpopulations of granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cells from mouse bone marrow.
abstract: The heterogeneity among progenitor cells of granulocytes and macrophages capable of forming colonies in vitro (CFU-c) is analysed. If specific culture conditions and stimuli are used, it is possible to discriminate among three subpopulations of CFU-c. CFU-c directly responding to CSF prepared from pregnant mouse uteri are characterized by a density of 1.075 g.cm-3. The G1-phase cells of this CFU-c subpopulation have a sedimentation rate of 4.8 mm.h-1. CFU-c of two additional subpopulations are induced to proliferate by enhancing factors present in serum of mice injected with endotoxin 18 hours earlier and in lysate of rat erythrocytes. CFU-c responding to postendotoxin serum have a density of 1.070 g.cm-3 and a sedimentation rate of 4.3 mm.h-1 (G1 cells). The CFU-c responding to erythrocyte lysate have a density of 1.080 g.cm-3 and a sedimentation rate of 5.3 mm.h-1 (G1 cells). The calculated diameters of G1-phase cells of these three CFU-c subpopulations range from 7.4 to 7.6 micron and are not significantly different. It is proposed that the three CFU-c detected represent three sequential maturation stages of granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cells. These cells are similar in size but increase in density (1.070 g.cm-3 to 1.080 g.cm-3) as they mature.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002469:Cell Separation; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors