Human marrow stromal cells in short-term semi-solid bone marrow culture in aplastic anaemia.

A short-term methylcellulose technique was used to study the proliferation of marrow-derived stromal, erythroid and myeloid colonies from normal controls and from patients with aplastic anaemia. There was a significant reduction in all colony types in patients with aplastic anaemia when compared with normal controls. In 4 patients who achieved remission following treatment with ATG + oxymetholone or with oxymetholone alone there was a return to normal range of stromal colonies and also of CFU-E. There was no change in the numbers of BFU-E's and only a slight increase in the numbers of CFU-C's.