Experimental amyloidosis in mice of different ages. Effects of neonatal thymectomy and amyloidogenic stimulation of pregnant mice.
Murine amyloidosis, induced by repeated injections of sodium caseinate, was compared in young and adult Swiss albino mice and in young thymectomized and nonthymectomized mice. Thymectomized mice developed amyloidosis earlier and more severely than intact mice. Mothers of young mice were injected with sodium caseinate during pregnancy and after birth sodium caseinate injections were given to the offspring, but this treatment did not seem to induce amyloidosis in the young mice. A much shorter latent period before development of amyloidosis was seen in the adult group than in the young mice. This may be the result of a depletion of cellular and humoral immunity with aging. The shorter latent period and more severe development of amyloidosis in the thymectomized groups supports the view that an impaired immunological state may constitute a basis for the development of amyloidosis.
D000375:Aging; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002364:Caseins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D013934:Thymectomy; D013997:Time Factors
D002364:Caseins