Stimulation of erythropoiesis in teratocarcinoma cells by erythropoietin and “Friend inducers”

Abstract Murine teratocarcinoma cells (PCC3/A1) formed erythroid cells in the form of blood islands when they were grown in organ culture. Addition of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N′N -dimethylacetamide and erythropoietin enhanced the formation of blood islands. An additive stimulatory effect was observed when expiants were incubated with DMSO and erythropoietin. In all of these cultures, the formed erythroblasts showed the characteristics of primitive erythroid cells, regardless of the nature of treatment. Small, enucleated red cells were occasionally observed. These results are compared with the characteristics of erythropoiesis in normal adults, embryos and in murine erythroleukemia.