Factors influencing hematopoietic spleen colony formation in irradiated mice. I. The normal pattern of endogenous colony formation.

Data pertaining to the endogenous mouse spleen colony system, 10 days postirradiation, are presented. The D(o) for visible colonies is 78 R, while that for 6 hr iron uptake over a range of 600-800 R is 50 R. The D(o) for spleen weight is 196 R and that for IUdR uptake is 193 R. These measurements increase with the age of the mouse. Hypertransfusion decreases spleen iron uptake and colony number. DF-(32)P and sodium sulfate-(35)S are not useful indicators of splenic hematopoiesis in this system. Visible hematopoietic colonies in the spleen are not produced by vinblastine, nitrogen mustard, methotrexate, or cyclophosphamide.