Quantitative Measurement of the Erythrocytic and Granulocytic Cells of the Marrow and Blood1

Abstract

In the preceding article, a method for measuring total marrow cellularity was described (1). The purpose of this report is to relate numerically (a) the erythroid marrow to the circulating red cell mass, and (b) the granulocytic marrow to the circulating granulocytic leukocytes. Results in three animal species and in man are reported, and are compared with data obtained by other methods. MATERIALS AND METHODSStudies were performed on Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 200 to 300 Gm., New Zealand white rabbits weighing 2 to 33/ Kg., and 2 to 3 Kg. male Rhesus monkeys. All animals were given approximately 15 mg. per Kg. of iron as iron dextran2 at least two weeks before the study to insure adequate iron stores. Only those animals with hemoglobin levels above 13 Gm. were used. Reticulocyte counts in rabbits were required to be below 4 per cent and those of monkeys and rats below 3 per cent before the animals were considered suitable for study.Clinical studies were performed on male patients with controlled tuberculosis who were being subjected to thoracotomy. Prior to operation, these patients had normal leukocyte counts and were afebrile, but plasma iron values were usually subnormal. On the morning of operation their red counts were above 4.5 X 106; their reticulocyte counts were less than 2 per cent. They had not been transfused during the previous six months. I. Erythrocytic seriesA. Studies of the circulating erythrocytes. A red count was performed by enumerating a minimum of 1,000 cells from two or more pipettes in two counting chambers. Reticulocyte counts were performed on dried

Studies of leukocyte kinetics by liquid scintillation counting in normal individuals and in patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia.

“…Since the t4 for circulating granulocytes is estimated at 6.6 hours (24) and the normal leukocyte count is in the range of 7,000 per mm3, the bone marrow "reserve" can be calculated to contain 2.7 x 101" cells. This figure is one of the same order of magnitude as reported by Donohue and co-workers (25).…”

Leukokinetic Studies. IX. Experimental Evaluation of a Model of Granulopoiesis*

“…The figure derived from this calculation, 14.4 X 109 granulocytes per kg, is in good agreement with Alexanian, McAlexander, and Donohue's figure of 12.0 X 109 granulocytes per kg extrapolated from the dog's total erythroid mass (20) as measured with iron59 (21).…”

“…Pertinent characteristics of the BGSA curves obtained at different times in relation to administration of VLB are summarized in Table III. Phase I + II was reduced from the normal value of 4.8 days to 3.4 days in the dogs given DFP32 1 hour before VLB. The tj of phase III was shortened from 46 to 21 hours, and phase IV was not altered significantly. In the dogs given DFP32 2 days after VLB, phase I + II was shortened from 4.8 to 2.3 days, the tj of phase III was decreased from 46 to 24 hours, and phase IV was not influenced.…”

Quantitative Measurement of Hematopoietic Cells of the Marrow1

“…The data obtained in these four species are meaningful when they are broken down into figures for erythrocytic and granulocytic cell series. This will be done in detail in a following article (12) …”