Irradiation & Injections for Bone Marrow Transplant

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is commonly used for treating many leukemias, tumors and metabolic diseases in-vivo The PRU offers whole body or targeted irradiation, and bone marrow injections for UNC PI’s.

UNC has both cesium and x ray irradiator sources available. The original housing location, your research requirements, as well as the final housing location all determine which machine can be used. Mice can be irradiated while awake (whole body), or we can utilize injectable or inhaled anesthesia for targeted irradiation. We offer a variety of body shields for use with X-ray irradiation to ensure other areas of the body remain untreated.

PRU standards include placement of sterile ear tags and return to sterile housing. Doses for BMT vary between 700 to 1300 cGy and are determined by your exact research needs. If post-procedure monitoring is requested, we will check mice daily and weigh mice three days weekly for three weeks minimum or as lab requested. The PRU can handle the maintenance and monitoring for lab provided antibiotic-containing or acidified water during this time.

Antibiotics provide in water are not considered an essential component of bone marrow transplant after care.

“…plasma concentrations were well below the concentrations required for efficacy against bacterial pathogens, except for those pathogens that are exquisitely sensitive to the antibiotic. The findings of this investigation prompt questions regarding the rationale of the contemporary practice of adding antibiotics to the drinking water of mice for systemic antibacterial treatments.”

“The findings of the current study demonstrate that the administration of antibiotics in the drinking water of mice does not result in plasma antibiotic concentrations that are effective against most pathogenic bacteria. Although this oral administration route may be adequate for treatment of some bacterial infections, such as when the antibiotic is concentrated at the site of infection, it is inappropriate for general systemic bacterial infections in which the sensitivity of the pathogenic bacteria has not been identified.”

Antibiotic Administration in the Drinking Water of Mice

James O Marx, Daljit Vudathala, Lisa Murphy, Shelley Rankin, F Claire Hankenson

J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2014 May; 53(3): 301–306. Published online 2014 May.

PMCID: PMC4128569