Theta-bearing cells in the bone marrow of thymus-deprived mice. Numbers and nature.
Theta-bearing cells in lymphomyeloid tissues of thymus-deprived and normal mice have been studied by the use of anti-theta antiserum and cytotoxicity tests in addition to functional tests. In contrast to the findings in peripheral lymphoid tissues, increased percentages and numbers of theta-bearing cells were found in the bone marrow of neonatally and nude mice as compared with normal and sham-thymectomized mice. In adult thymectomized mice, percentages comparable to those in sham-operated littermates were found. The findings were not due to irrelevant antibodies in the anti-theta antiserum, and neonatally thymectomized mice grafted with a thymic lobe showed percentages of theta-positive cells in the bone marrow comparable to those of sham-operated animals. Adrenalectomy did not lead to diminished percentages of theta-positive cells in the bone marrow of neonatally thymectomized mice, and the serum levels of hydrocortisone and corticosterone were within normal ranges in thymus-deprived mice. The mitogen responses and graft-versus-host activity of bone marrow cells from neonatally thymectomized mice suggest that most theta-positive cells in the bone marrow of these mice are functionally immature cells.
D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D006087:Graft vs Host Reaction; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007106:Immune Sera; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013934:Thymectomy
D007106:Immune Sera; D003345:Corticosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone