Degeneration and atrophy of the thymus of lethally irradiated dogs, rescued by transfusion of cryopreserved autologous blood leukocytes

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Exp. Hematol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5719838

Calvo, W; Fliedner, T M; Herbst, E W; Huegl, E B; Boedey, B

Dogs exposed to a fatal radiation dose of 12 Gy were rescued by transfusion of autologous blood leukocytes. A severe acute and long-lasting damage to the thymus was observed. The acute damage, as observed on the tenth day, consisted of a marked reduction in the number of lymphocytes, degeneration of Hassall's bodies, and hemorrhage. Long-term effects, observed several months after irradiation, were partial to total atrophy of the thymus. Regeneration, when it occurred, was limited to a few small isolated areas in which lymphopoiesis was supported by epithelial reticular cells. In contrast, the lymph nodes of all dogs had abundant cortical lymphopoiesis. The abundant hemopoiesis present in the marrow from the tenth day after irradiation until the end of the observation period should have provided sufficient circulating precursor cells to seed the thymus and regenerate the organ to the same extent as that observed in the other blood-forming organs. The impairment of lymphopoietic regeneration in the thymus seems to be due, therefore, to damage caused by irradiation on the specific stroma of the organ, which is not able to support such activity.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Ulm, Germany, F.R.
• OSTI ID: 5719838
• Journal Information: Exp. Hematol.; (United States), Vol. 15:11
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
LEUKOCYTES
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
TRANSFUSIONS
THYMUS
ATROPHY
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL REGENERATION
DOGS
FREEZING
LETHAL IRRADIATION
LYMPH NODES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
IRRADIATION
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RECOVERY
THERAPY
VERTEBRATES
560152* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Animals