title: Clonal proliferation of peritoneal exudate cells from New Zealand black mice: age-related changes.
abstract: Proliferation and differentiation of peritoneal exudate colony-forming cells (PE-CFC) were examined in BALB/c, C57BL/6, and NZB mice; NZB mice provided an experimental animal model for studies of autoimmunity. At 1 and 12 months of age, the number of PE-CFC from NZB mice was significantly less than the number of PE-CFC for other tested strains, whereas the number of clusters formed was reduced only in the older NZB mice. In contrast, 1- to 12-month-old BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice showed no significant age or strain-dependent alterations in PE-CFC. Although the latency period preceding colony growth remained constant for all strains and ages, significant variation in colony size was observed for NZB mice; the largest colonies were noted in the oldest group. We also observed age-associated variations in colony morphology; therefore, age- and strain-dependent differences may exist in the differentiation or functional attributes of PE-CFC subpopulations. The results specifically indicate that NZB mice have age-related alterations in PEC proliferative and differentiation capacities.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000166:cytology; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB / Q000276:immunology*; D013045:Species Specificity