Occurrence of germinal centers in the thymus of neonatally irradiated Swiss-Webster mice after splenectomy and multiple x-ray exposure of peripheral lymphoid tissues
Swiss-Webster mice were irradiated at birth with 500 R and splenectomized at 18 days. They were sacrificed at 60 to 70 days of age. Control procedures included: no treatment, sham splenectomy, x irradiation and sham splenectomy, splenectomy only, and x irradiation (500 R) only. In a second experiment, Swiss-Webster mice were exposed to 500 R at birth and to four additional doses of 250 R each at 15-day intervals, with the thymus shielded. The animals were sacrificed at 70 days and sections of thymus and peripheral lymphoid tissues were prepared. Germinal centers were found in the medulla of the thymus in 52% of the animals irradiated at birth and splenectomized. None were found in the intact, untreated animals, and one in those treated only with x rays. Small numbers of thymic germinal centers were found in those treated only by splenectomy. Two of 24 animals subjected to repeated doses of x rays to the peripheral lymphoid structures had medullary germinal centers in the thymus. Examination of the spleen and lymph nodes of animals subjected to multiple doses of x rays to the thymus and peripheral lymphoid tissues showed marked depletion of the lymphoid tissues, whereas with multiple irradiation of the peripheral lymphoid tissue only, there was evidence of substantial regeneration of the lymphoid elements in the spleen and lymph nodes. These findings suggest the possibility of a reciprocal relationship between the thymus and spleen.It is conceivable that following extirpation of the spleen under conditions of immunologic stress initiated by neonatal x irradiation, the thymus may act as a direct source of antibody production manifested by the development of germinal centers, plasma cells, and medullary lymphoid tissue production. (ERB)
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., San Francisco, CA (USA). Cancer Research Inst.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT03-76EV70289
- OSTI ID:
- 6822001
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/EV/70289-T1; UCSF-34P41-17
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
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SHIELDING
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WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION
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560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals