Relationship of normal CDF1 mouse leukocyte kinetics to growth characteristics of leukemia L1210.

Leukocyte kinetics were studied in the CDF1 mouse using liquid scintillation and radioautographic technics. Although the latter method provides more detailed information, the former technic is readily adaptable to experimental manipulations. The kinetics of mouse leukocytes are different from those in man. Either marrow storage and transit times are different or the generation times of mouse marrow progenitor cells is shorter. Data presented in this study and those available in the literature support the latter concept. The selective therapeutic advantage of the mouse marrow cells is probably related to the presence of nonproliferating cells inaccessible to chemotherapy as reported in the literature. Knowledge of both normal and tumor cell kinetics is essential if drug scheduling is to be placed on a more rational basis.