Benzene-induced inhibition of erythroid colony formation in vitro

The erythroid colony forming unit assay technique was used to study the inhibitory effect of benzene on mouse bone marrow cell culture in vitro. The ability of vitamin B6 to prevent benzene-induced inhibition of erythroid colony formation was also tested. At concentrations equal to or higher than the lowest inhibitory concentration of benzene, pyridoxine HCl significantly prevented benzene-induced inhibition of erythroid colony formation in vitro. However, when benzene concentration was higher, the added pyridoxine HCl was ineffective in preventing benzene-induced inhibition of erythroid colony formation in vitro, even when it was preincubated with the bone marrow cells for 30 minutes prior to adding benzene. On the basis of this finding, it is proposed that benzene-induced inhibition of erythroid colony formation may involve two different mechanisms, one of which involves interaction with vitamin B6 added as pyridoxine HCl.