Characterization of early leukemic cells in spleen and bone marrow of Friend virus infected mice.

Nonidentity of leukemic cell populations of DBA/w mice (TCFU and CRVEI) early after Friend Visus infection has been demonstrated for spleen by different growth kinetics of these cell populations during leukemogenesis and for spleen and bone marrow of DBA/w mice by the velocity sedimentation technique. In addition the velocity sedimentation data indicate a heterogeneity of the TCFU population. Stem cell analysis of TCFU and CFUS derived spleen colonies showed that TCFU colonies contain significantly more CFUEI than the surrounding tissue. The erythroid nature of TCFU colonies is confirmed by the almost complete absence of CFUC from these colonies as compared to CFUS derived spleen colonies.