title: Thymic hormone-containing cells. Characterization and localization of serum thymic factor in young mouse thymus studied by monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: The characterization and distribution of cells containing the serum thymic factor (FTS) in the thymus of young mice was studied by immunofluorescence using monoclonal anti-FTS antibodies. FTS+ cells were distributed throughout the thymic parenchyma but were more frequent in the medullary region than in the cortex. FTS-containing cells presented a stellate or globular aspect, and some of them exhibited fluorescent cytoplasmic granules. The epithelial nature of FTS+ cells was confirmed by double-labeling experiments using an anti-keratin antiserum (as an epithelial cell marker). Nevertheless, only a minority of keratin-positive epithelial reticular cells contained FTS. All controls, including the incubation of sections from nonthymic tissues with the anti-FTS antibodies, were negative. Taken together, these results confirm the exclusive localization of FTS-containing cells within the mouse thymus.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009928:Organ Specificity; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating / Q000032:analysis*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D013951:Thymus Hormones; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating