Variations in the stromal cell population of human bone marrow during aging

Age-related variations in the stromal cell population of human bone marrow were studied by means of a cloning assay. It was found that these cells are heterogeneous both in division capacity and in morphology. Fibroblast-like progenitor cells could be distinguished from epithelial-like cells, having only a very limited division potential. A significant inverse correlation between the donor age and the number of progenitor cells could be demonstrated. This loss of progenitor cells during aging was compensated by an increase in the number of epithelial-like cells.