Effects of cervical dislocation on colony-forming cells in murine marrow cultures

Bone marrow obtained in a conventional manner after killing mice by cervical dislocation demonstrates increased absolute numbers of GM-CFC when compared to that from living anesthetized mice. The anesthetic agent does not account for the observed difference. Interpretation of all studies of murine marrow culture must take this observation into account, and extrapolation of the results of such studies to living human marrow should be made with care. Further studies of the mechanisms by which cervical dislocation increases the numbers of GM-CFC may help to elucidate certain mechanisms of commitment of the pluripotential hemopoietic stem cell.