In Vitro Proliferation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells in the Absence of an Adherent Monolayer

• Published in: Blood 1982-07, Vol.60 (1), p.130-135
• Main Authors: Eastment, Christine, Denholm, Elizabeth, Katsnelson, Irena, Arnold, Eugene, Ts'o, Paul O.P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase - metabolism; Animals; Bone Marrow Cells; Cell Adhesion; Cell Differentiation; Cell Separation; Cells, Cultured; Colony-Forming Units Assay; Cricetinae; Erythrocytes - cytology; Female; Granulocytes - cytology; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - classification; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - cytology; Humans; Male; Megakaryocytes - cytology; Megakaryocytes - enzymology; Mesocricetus; Spleen - cytology; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0006-4971; 1528-0020
• DOI: 10.1182/blood.V60.1.130.130

Experiments on long-term murine bone marrow cultures indicate that the production and maintenance of the hematopoietic stem cell is dependent on the establishment of an adherent monolayer and a secondary repopulation of the culture with fresh marrow. In contrast, we have found that bone marrow cultures derived from the Syrian hamster do not require a repopulation step and produce stem cells that proliferate and differentiate for more than 12 wk in the absence of an adherent layer. Stem cells were grown in Fisher's medium (pH 7.0-7.2) containing 20% horse serum in a fully humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air at 37°C. Cultures were fed twice weekly by removal of half of the medium and supernatant cells and replacement with an equal volume of fresh medium. No hormones or exogenous growth factors were required for the maintenance of myeloid cells, monocytes, and megakaryocytes in either the adherent or suspension cell cultures.