Effect of mitomycin C on bone marrow cells in mice

The total and differential cell counts of femoral bone marrow and peripheral reticulocyte counts were determined in male ddY mice up to day 11 after an intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/kg of mitomycin C. Total marrow cell counts showed a minimum value on day 2 after the injection, and then recovered to the control level on day 7. In the differential cell counts, the minimum values were observed on day 1 for proerythroblasts and basophilic erythroblasts, on day 2 for polychromatic erythroblasts, and on day 4 for mature neutrophils. Recovery was seen from the 4th to 7th days after injection. Marrow lymphocytes showed a maximum value when the total counts were minimum. The peripheral reticulocytes almost disappeared 4 days after the injection, and recovered to the pretreatment level on day 11.