A study of the proliferative response of rabbit T cells using the BrdU-Hoechst method.
Con-A- and PHA-induced proliferation of cells from rabbit thymus, spleen and mesenteric lymph node was studied with the DNA-fluorescent probe 33258 Hoechst. The fluorescence of this probe is quenched when 5-bromo-2'-deoxy-uridine is incorporated into nascent DNA during the S phase. Fluorescence decreased with increasing content of newly formed DNA per cell. Proliferation kinetics and the number of Con-A- and PHA-reactive cells (C+ and P+ cells) were determined cytofluorometrically . Lymphocytes from control and dexamethasone (DX)-treated animals start their proliferation early: after 42 hr about 25% of the control and the majority of the DX-resistant cells finished their second cell division. Small numbers of C+ (12.0%) and P+ (3.5%) cells were found in control thymus, while these percentages were enhanced in DX thymus: 32.5 and 27.0% respectively; 50% of the spleen T cells in control and DX animals are C+ or P+ and 75% of the lymph-node T cells are C+ (after DX 45%) and 50% are P+ (after DX also 50%). It is concluded that in thymus and lymph nodes, a steroid sensitive (Ss) C+P-, and in lymph nodes a Ss C+P+ cell pool is present. A mitogen non-proliferative cell pool (C-P-) is present in control and DX thymus.
D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D006690:Bisbenzimidazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D005260:Female; D007700:Kinetics; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
D001562:Benzimidazoles; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D006690:Bisbenzimidazole