Depression of T lymphocyte function in chimpanzees receiving thymectomy and irradiation. [X Radiation]
In studies analogous to those in which the thymus dependency of immune functions in murine systems was determined, three chimpanzees were thymectomized, splenectomized, exposed to lethal doses of whole body x-irradiation with limited bone marrow shielding, and subsequently evaluated for lymphocyte markers and functions over a period of years. In the oldest animal studied (Irena, 7.2 years at surgery), the percentage of peripheral blood T cells decreased to about 60% of control values and remained at that level for approximately 1/sup 1///sub 2/ years before returning to normal. In the two youngest chimpanzees T cell rosette values dropped to 15 to 40% of control values after irradiation. T cell percentages in one of these young chimpanzees returned to about 75% of the controls 2/sup 1///sub 2/ years after x-irradiation. Phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A mitogen responses were less affected in the oldest chimpanzee. However, even in the oldest animal, the responses to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A began to show a gradual and consistent decline 1/sup 1///sub 2/ years after irradiation. Mixed leukocyte culture responsiveness was most affected by the experimental procedures, being greatly reduced in all three chimpanzees during varying time intervals. In general, the effects of the experimental procedures used to produce T cell deficiencies varied with the age of the chimpanzee at surgery, the time after irradiation when the animal was tested, and the lymphocyte marker or function studied.
- Research Organization:
- Duke Univ. Medical Center, Durham, NC
- OSTI ID:
- 5113430
- Journal Information:
- Transplantation; (United States), Vol. 25:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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LYMPHOCYTES
ABUNDANCE
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PHYSIOLOGY
THYMECTOMY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
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PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININ
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X RADIATION
AGGLUTININS
ANIMAL CELLS
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LEUKOCYTES
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560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals