Biopterin level in blood cells as a marker for hemopoietic cell proliferation during autologous bone marrow transplantation in beagle dogs.

Bone marrow aplasia was induced by fractionated whole body irradiation with 3000 R and restitution was started by autologous bone marrow transplantation. During the period of aplasia the amount of buffy coat biopterin clearly followed the decline of leukocytes and, vice versa, during reconstitution it largely paralleled their increase in number. The amount of red cell biopterin closely correlated with the number of reticulocytes rather than with the fairly constant values for hematocrit or of erythrocytic protein. Thereby it clearly followed the various periods of red cell recovery. The amount of cellular biopterin, its concentration with respect to cell number or to unit of protein and the percentage distribution of biopterin among the cell fractions are presented as characteristics of the activity of hemopoietic cell proliferation.