Erythroid progenitors in Rauscher leukemia virus variant-A-induced erythropoietic dysplasia in mice.

In vitro erythropoiesis by bone marrow and spleen cells was assessed in normal mice and during progression of Rauscher leukemia virus, variant-A (RLV-A) disease in mice. As RLV-A disease progressed from early through terminal stages, there was a marked increase in the numbers of in vitro splenic CFU-E and BFU-E. Conversely, bone marrow CFU-E and BFU-E demonstrated a concomitant decrease in numbers with disease progression. At no time were erythropoietin-independent (endogenous) erythroid colonies generated. The results suggest that compartmental alterations in erythroid precursors occur during progression of RLV-A.