[Separation of bone marrow cells of normal and anemic rabbits using isopycnic dextran density gradient]

Bone-marrow cells of normal and anemic (phenylhydrazine) rabbits were separated in the isopyknotic continuous 50-ml dextran density gradient. The separated cells were divided into 3 groups according the benzidine-peroxide-Giemsa staining after Brosook: nucleated, nonerythroid (A), nucleated, erythroid (B), and nonnucleated, erythroid (C). The highest proportion of erythroid, nucleated cells was found in fractions of medium density: in normal animals 20%, in anemic ones 45%. The group B/A ratio in the unseparated suspension is 0.7 in normal animals and 1.7 in anemic ones; and in the most favourable density fraction 0.3 and 1.9 respectively. Thus an unimportant accumulation of erythroid bone-marrow cells of rabbit is observed. In constrast, an accumulation of nucleated leukocytes of 80--90% can be reached in the low-density fractions.