Objective To evaluate the effects endothelial progenitor cells （EPCs） survival in vitro of serum deprivation （SD） and hypoxia on the bone marrow Methods Rat bone marrow EPCs were exposed for 48 h to 02 deprivation, serum deprivation （ SD ） , and prolonged （ 120 h） hypoxia concomitant with serum deprivation. Cell death was assessed by Live/Dead staining and image analysis. Reaulta The EPCs death rate seemed not affected by 48 h 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 72 h, 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.
