THE THYMUS AND LYMPH NODES IN RADIATION CHIMERAS

Journal Article · Sat Feb 16 04:00:00 EST 1963 · Lancet, I

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(63)91385-0· OSTI ID:4705006

Ford, C E; Micklem, H S

Lethally irradiated mice were injected with bone marrow, together with lymph-node or thymus cells. The progeny of the bone-marrow and lymphoid inocula could be distinguished from each other and from cells of the host by means of chromosome markers. An inbred strain (CBA-T6T6) was used that is entirely compatible with strain CBA/H. Hematopoietic cell populations from CBA-T6T6 and (CBA x CBAmale mice were given 1000-rad whole-body x irradiation, and were injected intravenously with CBA-T6T6 cells. Donor cells could be distinguished by the distinctive small T6 chromosome. Bone-marrow cells clearly had a greater ability to proliferate in the tissues studied than cells of lymph node or thymus. Injected lymphoid cells proliferated more extensively in the lymph nodes than in the thymus, although even in the nodes they were never in the majority of dividing cells. Subsequently the nodes of most animals showed good lymphoid regeneration, with typical germinal centers in the mesenteric nodes. Reformation of lymphoid elements was far more advanced in the thymus than in the lymph nodes by 3 weeks after irradiation. It was concluded that there is something in the structure of the thymus which positively prevents the ingress of intravenously injected lymphoid cells. The observations show that the re-formation of lymphoid elements occurs sooner in the thymus than in the lymph nodes, and are compatible with the idea that the thymus continues to seed the other lymphoid tissues. They further show that the precursors of the thymus own regeneration after irradiation comes from the injected bone marrow. (TCO)

• Research Organization: Medical Research Council Radiobiological Research Unit, Harwell, Berks, Eng.
• NSA Number: NSA-17-024948
• OSTI ID: 4705006
• Journal Information: Lancet, I, Journal Name: Lancet, I Vol. Vol: 359-62
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BONE MARROW
CHROMOSOMES
IRRADIATION
LETHAL DOSE
LYMPH NODES
LYMPH SYSTEM
MICE
MITOSIS
REGENERATION
THYMUS
TRANSPLANTS
X RADIATION