Objective To evaluate the effects of serum deprivation(SD)and hypoxia on the bone marrow endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs)survival in vitro.Methods Rat bone marrow EPCs were exposed for 48h to O2 deprivation,serum deprivation(SD),and prolonged(120h)hypoxia concomitant with serum deprivation.Cell death was assessed by Live/Dead staining and image analysis.Results The EPCs death rate seemed not affected by 48h hypoxia(P>0.05),but affected by SD(P<0.01).Prolonged hypoxia concomitant with SD resulted in the death of nearly all EPCs from 72h,but this rate was remarkably reduced when with 20% fetal bovine serum(P<0.01).Conclusion Our findings indicate that EPCs are sensitive to hypoxia/SD stimuli,while serum may be the more important factor for EPCs survival.
