Growth and Differentiation of Transplanted W/Wv Marrow

This paper reports new data on the effect of the action of the mutant genesW and W^v on murine hemopoiesis. Our studies demonstrate that the presenceof these mutant genes produces: (1) a macrocytic anemia with neithergranulocytopenia nor thrombocytopenia; (2) a severe defect in the earlystages of hemopoietic repopulation manifested by (a) an apparent block inthe differentiation of immature cells into erythroid precursors, and (b) a greatly reduced rate of proliferation of differentiated hemopoietic elements.

These data demonstrate the existence of genetic influence on repopulationand differentiation of transplanted marrow and suggest that severe anemia mayresult not only from defects in the late stages of erythroid development butalso from abnormalities in the early stages of erythroid maturation andhemopoietic repopulation.

Submitted on February 15, 1967 Accepted on May 5, 1967