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Thymic cell activity of thiouracil-treated chicks

Conference · · Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5457970

Thymus glands of chickens fed a diet containing .1% thiouracil from day of hatch are less well developed than those of controls. Thymus weights are reduced, and the cortical and medullary areas are found to have poor cellularity upon histological examination. Fewer mitotic figures are observed in the thymic cortices of thiouracil-treated chickens, and indications of regression at an early age are noticeable in their medullae. The phytohemmagglutin-M response of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) is reduced in thiouracil-fed chicks. However, PBL from thiouracil-treated chicks do not produce lower graft versus host responses (GvH). Thymic cells from 1 and 3 week-old chicks were cultured in vitro with BPMI 1640 medium for short lengths of time. The uptake of /sup 3/H-thymidine (/sup 3/HTdR) was measured after 1 and 4 hr incubation periods at 40/sup 0/C in a humidified 5% CO/sub 2/ atmosphere. There was more uptake of /sup 3/HTdR by thymic cells from control chicks after both 1 and 4 hr of incubation. Autoradiographic studies of thymic cells labeled in vitro with /sup 3/HTdR were also conducted. The T cells from chicks treated with thiouracil from day of hatch are less active than those from control chicks. But the functional ability of the T-cell subpopulation involved in GvH is not altered. A thiouracil-induced hypothyroid state would appear to affect thymic development in young chickens.

Research Organization:
Mississippi State Univ., State College
OSTI ID:
5457970
Report Number(s):
CONF-8604222-
Journal Information:
Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States), Journal Name: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States) Vol. 45:3; ISSN FEPRA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English