An enzyme-histochemical approach to the study of the human bone-marrow stroma.

The different cells and structures of the bone-marrow stroma were studied with histochemical markers. Reticulum cells, endothelial cells and macrophages were identified by their morphologic characteristics as well as by their different positivity to alkaline-phosphatase, alpha-naphthyl-acetate-esterase and Prussian blue staining. Similarities, as well as distinguishing features of all these cells, possibly related to their common or different origin and functional properties, are described.