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Effect of T-lymphocytes on normal haemopoiesis: Studies in congenitally athymic nude mice

Einfluß von T-Lymphozyten auf die normale Hämopoese: Untersuchungen bei der kongenital athymischen Maus

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Zusammenfassung

Keimfreie nackte (nu/nu) Mäuse sind aufgrund des Fehlens eines funktionsfähigen Thymus kongenital ohne T-Lymphozyten. Sie sind deswegen zur Untersuchung der Interaktion zwischen T-Zellen und anderen biologischen Prozessen besonders geeignet. Vergleichende Untersuchungen zwischen nicht T-defizienten CBA-Mäusen zeigen, daß das Fehlen der T-Zellen zu einer Störung der Hämopoese in 2–6 Monate alten Tieren führt. Diese zeigt sich in einer mäßigen Makrozytose und einem stark reduzierten H3-TdR-Markierungsindex der Leukozyten nach Markierung in vivo. Trotz dieser Störung können nu/nu-Mäuse so viele hämatopoetische Zellen produzieren, daß normale Blutzellzahlen aufrechterhalten werden, allerdings nur beim Fehlen zusätzlicher Belastung. Die Anämie konventionell aufgezogener nu/nu-Mäuse ist wahrscheinlich durch bakterielle Infektionen bedingt.

Summary

The germ-free nude mouse represents a most useful animal for investigating the effects of a congenital deficiency of T-lymphocytes on various physiological processes, including haemopoiesis. Nude mice (nu/nu) of the CBA strain, nonmutant inbred CBA mice, and inbred C3H mice were reared in germ-free isolators and used to compare (1) the haematological parameters of nu/nu mice and CBA mice at different ages and (2) the labelling pattern of circulating leucocytes at various times after a single intraperitoneal injection of3H-thymidine into 3-month-old nu/nu and C3H mice. The data suggest that the deficiency of T-lymphocytes in nu/nu mice may lead to a disturbance of haemopoiesis in 2 to 6-month-old animals which is characterised by a mild macrocytosis and a very marked reduction in the proportion of labelled leucocytes which can be seen in the blood after an injection of3H-thymidine. Despite these perturbations, unstressed nu/nu mice were able to maintain adequate numbers of blood cells (other than lymphocytes) in their circulation. Nine-month-old nu/nu mice did not show a macrocytosis and the disappearance of the macrocytosis at this age was associated with an increase both in the blood lymphocyte count and in the mass of lymphoid tissue in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes.

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Harris, G., Wickramasinghe, S.N. Effect of T-lymphocytes on normal haemopoiesis: Studies in congenitally athymic nude mice. Blut 39, 191–199 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01008448

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