Effect of indomethacin on the proliferative and differentiation activity in the haemopoietic system of lethally irradiated mice after syngeneic bone marrow transplantation.

The effects of indomethacin treatment on the proliferation and differentiation of haemopoietic stem cells of bone marrow grafts in lethally irradiated mice were investigated. Indomethacin was given subcutaneously, on days 3 to 5 after irradiation, in 6 doses of 0.05 mg per mouse. On day 6 after irradiation, an increased self-renewal of the settled colony-forming cells and an increased amount of differentiated cells were observed in the spleens of the mice treated. Simultaneously, a decreased maturation of the erythroid cells was demonstrated. The effects observed may be explained by the indomethacin-induced inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis.