The suicide technique in vitro for granulocytic progenitor cells (CFC) by application of hydroxyurea (HU) to low concentrations of human bone marrow cells.

A suicide technique applicable to human bone marrow granulocytic progenitor cells has been previously described (3). This study discusses the conditions for its use on bone marrow aspirates poor in cells. When the number of cells exposed to hydroxyurea (HU) is proportional to the quantity of HU it is possible to avoid artifacts due to HU toxicity. This technique can repeatedly reproduce a 40--50% suicide. To obtain this result we suggest using a 6.10(-6) mM/ml/cell HU concentration.