The Quantitative Distribution of the Erythron and the RE Cell in the Bone Marrow Organ of Man

Abstract

Abstract Studies of the quantitative distribution of the RES and the erythron in the bone marrow of the pelvis and lower extremities were performed in a 52 year old male undergoing hemicorpectomy. 198Au colloid and transferrin bound 59Fe were injected 24 hours prior to disarticulation of the lower skeleton. Thirty-three per cent of the injected 59Fe and 3.2 per cent of the injected 198Au-colloid was recovered in the excised skeleton. By calculation approximately 84 per cent of the injected 59Fe and 8 per cent of the 198Au was deposited in the total body marrow. The spatial distribution of 198Au and 59Fe activity was essentially the same in each bone and in multiple small sections of them. The results support the concept that in normal situations the quantitative distribution of the RES and the erythron in the bone marrow organ of man is essentially identical and that radioisotope photoscanning of the marrow using radiocolloids does depict the quantitative distribution of the erythropoietic marrow.