Effect of cortisone in delineating thymus cell subsets in advanced age.
The mixed lymphocyte reactivity of thymus cells from normal and cortisone-treated, young and old C57BL/6J mice was evaluated. The results indicated that while in the young mice cortisone treatment caused a 12-fold increase in the reactivity of thymus cells, it had no effect on the response of thymus cells from old mice. The significance of the disappearance of cortisone-resistant mature thymus cells in old mice is discussed regarding the general decline in immunocompetence and the increase of autoimmune manifestations in old age.
D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival; D003348:Cortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008937:Mitomycins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D008937:Mitomycins; D003348:Cortisone