Figure 1.

Hematopoietic reconstitution assay for detecting the presence of HSC. The hematopoietic system of lethally irradiated host mice can be fully reconstituted with lymphoid, myeloid, erythroid, and dendritic cells following adoptive transfer of bone marrow cells as a source of HSC. In order to assess the presence of HSC or other hematopoietic progenitors in a test population of cells, CD45-allotype distinct cells are adoptively transferred with assessment of the hematopoietic reconstitution capacity of this specific population by flow cytometry. In most cases, test animals are also given an inoculum of host type bone marrow to ensure survival. HSC with long-term reconstitution potential produce progeny out to 25 weeks, while HSC with short-term potential are assessed after 8 weeks.