Hematological compensation of microphthalmic mice with congenital osteopetrosis.

Microphthalmic mice possess less than 10% of marrow cells. This marrow deficiency is compensated by an increase in the number of spleen cells. Additionally, 2-week-old mi/mi mice have increased frequency of hemopoietic stem cells in the spleen and remaining marrow. In addition they have persistent stem cells in the liver. No other major hematologic abnormalities were found.