[Effect of testosterone on in vitro proliferation of bone marrow granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (CFU-GM). I. Observations in normal subjects].

A hypothetical mechanism whereby testosterone propionate (Tp) seems to stimulate the granulopoiesis has been studied. We cultured in agar human bone marrow cells harvested 24 h before and after parenteral administration of 100 mg Tp to 4 volunteer subjects having no hematologic disorders. The dynamic features of the proliferating progenitor cells (growth of the CFU-GM) were studied in agar cultures according to an original method of repeated topographic scoring of dishes. In this way we obtained a classification of the newformed cellular aggregates (CA) based on their size and on their appearance time in vitro. The results were analysed according to the following dynamic classification of the CFU-GM: AC-A = CA observed on day 7 of culture and degenerate on day 12; AC-B = CA present on both days 7 and 12, distinct as B-persistent (CA persistent with the same size in the interval between 7th and 12th day of incubation) and as B-progressed (CA progressed to a wider size in the same interval); AC-C = CA appeared ex novo at the 12th day of culture. After acute Tp pre-treatment we observed, in the first period of culture (observations made on day 7), a decrease of the number of the small size CA (P1 = 5-10 cells), while the number of the wide size CA (P2 = 11-30 cells; P3 = 31-50 cells; P4 = more than 50 cells per CA) was increased. The number of the AC-A was unmodified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)