Estimation of selected methods of separation of hematopoietic cells from human umbilical cord blood

: Umbilical cord blood can determine alternative to bone marrow source of hematopoietic cells for transplantations. The aim of this work was estimation and comparison both of effectivity of separation of mononuclear cells from umbilical cord blood by means of Ficoll-Histopaque, Gradisol L and ammonium chloride and potential toxicity of Hoechst 33342, Rhodamin 123 and Pyronin Y on CD34+ cells. We showed superiority of density gradient centrifugation method (Ficoll-Histopaque, Gradisol L) over hypoosmotic lysis of erythrocytes and granulocytes (ammonium chloride). We ascertained similar efficiency of Ficoll and Gradisol. We showed also significant toxic influence of metabolic dyes, especially Hoechst 33342 on early hematopoietic cells.