This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ash, R. Articles by Hellman, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ash, R. Articles by Hellman, S.

The Effects of Nitrogen Mustard on the Survival of Murine Hematopoietic Stem Cells¹

Department of Radiation Therapy, Harvard Medical School, Joint Center for Radiation Therapy, Boston, Massachusetts 02115

The effects of nitrogen mustard on murine hematopoietic stem cells are reported. The data indicate no evidence for intracellular repair of sublethal nitrogen mustard damage. The survival characteristics of cells at different positions of the cell cycle are different, with late S and G₂ cells being most resistant, and G₁ being most sensitive. The survival curve of hematopoietic stem cells can be resolved into a mixture of two populations of cells with different exponential survival characteristics. The sensitive population in great excess is probably due to the large proportion of cells either out of cycle or in a long G₁ in this primarily resting population. The more resistant terminal slope can be explained by the small number of cells in the more resistant portion of the cycle (late S and G₂). These data are then used to suggest ways of using HN2 alone or in combination with other agents to increase the therapeutic ratio.

¹ Supported by USPHS Grant 5 R01-CA 10941.

Received 1/19/72. Accepted 4/24/72.