Cultivation and differentiation of haemopoietic CFU-C cells in semisolid medium.

The possibilities of cultivating murine bone marrow in semisolid agar and in methyl cellulose were investigated. The proliferative capacity of the haemopoietic CFU-C stem cells were demonstrated. The growth of CFU-C in fresh murine bone marrow and murine marrow short-term preserved at -75 degrees C was compared. The content of cells capable of proliferation was lower and the onset of colony formation was delayed in preserved bone marrow. Procedures appropriate for routine work were employed for evaluating haemopoietic colonies.