The Fate of 3H-Thymidine Labeled Cells Injected as a Potential Human Marrow Graft

Bone marrow was labeled in vitro with H/sup 3/-thymidine to trace the cells after injection in two patients. In one patient with disseminated malignant neoplasm, autologous labeled marrow (5.1 x 10/sup 9/ nucleated cells containing 2.1 x 10/sup 8/ labeled immature cells) was infused intravenously after 360 r of whole-body gamma irradiation. A second patient with aplastic anemia was given, without irradiation, homologous labeled marrow (2.1 x 10/sup 9/ nucleated cells containing 2.3 x 10/sup 8/ labeled immature cells) from a normal donor who had the same ABO and Rh compatible blood groups. In the first patient peripheral blood and bone marrows were taken at 10 minutes postmarrow infusion, every day for 4 days, and after that at intervals of a few days. Autoradiograms of 4 approximately 10 films of each sample of bone marrow and of the buffy coat of peripheral blood were prepared and scanned. The result indicated that the injected marrow survived for a time. It was shown that injected cells were capable both of mitosis and maturation. Labeled autologous and homologous marrow cells can be detected in the recipient for at least 10 days.