Modification of rhodamine staining allows identification of hematopoietic stem cells with preferential short-term or long-term bone marrow-repopulating ability

The concentration of P-glycoprotein expression in hematopoietic stem cells is high and it is possible to separate cells responsible for long-term bone marrow repopulating ability from those exhibiting short-term repopulating ability by the decrease in the mitochondrial rhodamine (Rho)-binding capability. A modification of Rho staining was developed to study the intake of Rho into hematopoietic cells. A large portion of the cells become Rho positive while some become Rho negative.