Stimulation of megakaryocytic spleen colonies in mice by thrombopoietin.

Kidney cell culture medium that was shown to stimulate thrombocytopoiesis in TSF assay mice was injected into lethally-irradiated, bone marrow transplanted mice. Results showed that the injection of TSF-rich material caused an increase in the number of megakaryocytic colonies when compared to control mice. The numbers of surface colonies and colonies/spleen section were not altered by TSF treatment. Erythroid, granulocytic, and undifferentiated colonies were not elevated by TSF injection. These data support the hypothesis that kidney cells in culture produce a humoral factor that controls the regulation of platelet and megakaryocyte production.