Lymph node mast cells in athymic "nude" (Nu/Nu) and thymus containing (Nu/+ and +/+) Balb/c mice.
Total number of mast cells in popliteal lymph nodes of Balb/c mice is a function of time and Nu gene (complex?) content. The number of mast cells increases with age - in both wild +/+ and in Nu gene (complex?) carriers (Nu/+ and Nu/Nu). The increase in the number of mast cells is faster in the Nu gene carriers than in wild animals +/+ devoid of this gene. In "nude" mice having advanced hepatitis a dramatic increase in the number of lymphoid mast cells was observed. Results obtained deny the importance of thymus in the production of lymphatic mast cells in mice.
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000502:physiology*