Effects of 1,2:5,6-dianhydrogalactitol on the bone marrow stem cells in normal and melanoma-bearing mice

The effects of 1,2:5,6-dianhydrogalactitol(DAG) on the bone marrow stem cells in CFW mice were tested by using the spleen colony –forming technique. The ip do-response curves at 24 h were exponential,with a D37 of 1.7 mg/kg for the bone marrow stem cells in normal mice and 3.5 mg/kg for the B16 melanoma bearing mice. There was a nadir of survival of 10% at 24 h after ip 4 mg/kg. It took 14 days for the bone marrow stem cells in normal mice to recover to initial level, but the cells in the melanoma-bearing mice could not recover to the initial level in 14 days. Doses of 2 mg/kg * 3 or 1.5 mg/kg*4 were less toxic to the marrow stem cells than a single dose of 6 mg/kg. The cell type distribution of colonies was RBC: pure granulocytes: mixed cells=56:30:14. This ratio was not altered by DAG. When spleen colony-forming assay was carried out in CFW mice, it was expedient to give 800 R of gamma radiation and to count the number of colobies in spleen on days 8-11 after the injection of bone marrow cells.