Early decline of thymic effect on T cell differentiation.
Thymic lobes of B6C3F1 mice ranging in age from 1 day to 11 weeks were implanted under the kidney capsule of T cell deprived syngeneic young adult TXB mice, and the capacity of the thymus grafts to influence the maturation of T cells was assessed at 6 and 12 weeks after the implantation in terms of (a) regenerative activities of the grafted thymus, (2) splenic T cell dependent anti-SRBC response, and (c) mitogenic reactivity of spleen and lymph node cells to T cell specific mitogens. The results revealed that: (1) thymic tissues from 1 week old donors were most efficient in restoring the immune potential of adult TXB mice; (2) a decline in mitogenic reactivities of spleen and lymph node cells was observed in recipients of thymus grafts from donors of 1 month and older; and a decline of splenic helper T cell function was observed in recipients of thymus grafts from 11 weeks old donors. The significance of this early decline in the thymic effect on T cell differentiation is discussed.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007668:Kidney / Q000601:surgery; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D037102:Lectins; D003208:Concanavalin A