Erythroid repopulating ability of bone marrow cells in polycythaemic mice.

The erythroid repopulating ability (ERA) of femoral bone marrow cells was determined in polycythaemic CBA, C57Bl and Balb/c mice. Polycythaemia was induced by hypertransfusion or exposure to chronic hypoxia in silicone rubber membrane enclosures. The results obtained demonstrate decreased ERA after both types of polycythaemia, with the exception of ex-hypoxic Balb/c mice. A decrease in the number of erythroid repopulating cells in DNA synthesis was found in hypertransfused and exhypoxic CBA mice in comparison to normal values. These studies indirectly indicate the contribution of cells committed to erythropoiesis in measurement of ERA.