title: In vitro thymidine uptake and incorporation into thymic and bursal lymphocytes from young hypothyroidic chickens.
abstract: Experiments were conducted to evaluate the ability of thymic and bursal lymphocytes from hypothyroidic chicks to take up 3H-thymidine. To produce hypothyroidism, chicks were fed a diet containing thiouracil (0.1%) from day of hatch to 3 weeks of age. At 1, 2 and 3 weeks of age, body weights were significantly lower for hypothyroid chicks, and at 2 and 3 weeks of age, the relative weights of the thymus and bursa were significantly less than those of controls. Furthermore, chicks treated with thiouracil had significantly lower serum concentrations of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Thymic cells from hypothyroid chicks incorporated less 3H-thymidine at 1 and 3 weeks of age as assessed by liquid scintillation counting and autoradiography. Liquid scintillation counts for labeled bursal cells from hypothyroid chicks were not lower at 1 week of age, but the counts were lower at 3 weeks of age. Autoradiographic studies with bursal cells revealed that 3H-thymidine incorporation was less, but not significantly less, in medium-size lymphocytes from thiouracil-treated chicks at both 1 and 3 weeks of age. Thymidine incorporation into large bursal cells was affected more by thiouracil treatment at 1 than 3 weeks of age.
authors: Department of Poultry Science, Poole Agricultural Center, Clemson University, S.C.
authors: T R
authors: TR
authors: Scott
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Glick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002645:Chickens; D004032:Diet; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013889:Thiouracil / Q000494:pharmacology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013889:Thiouracil; D013936:Thymidine