Tissue repopulation during cure of osteopetrotic (mi/mi) mice using normal and defective (We/Wv) bone marrow

Resorption of petrotic bone in osteopetrotic (mi/mi) mice was brought about by transplantation of bone marrow to X-irradiated recipients. In an attempt to learn more about the donor cell line involved in this process, both normal and defective marrow were used. The consequent repopulation of the lympho-myeloid complex was monitored by isoenzymes of glucose phosphate isomerase. The progress of normal marrow grafts was contrasted with that of a defective marrow (We/Wv). Despite the observation with We/Wv marrow showed reduced ability to form colonies in the spleen of an irradiated recipient, this marrow was as effective as normal marrow in inducing resorption of petrotic bone. The primordial stem cell for the osteoclast (haematopoietic stem cell?) is thus not a CFUS. Chimaeras with resolution of osteopetrosis by We/Wv bone marrow may exhibit erythropoiesis from residual stem cells of the host but leucocytes and platelets from the donor.