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THE THYMUS GLANDS OF A MARSUPIAL, SETONIX BRACHYURUS (QUOKKA), AND THEIR ROLE IN IMMUNE RESPONSES
Author(s) -
Yadav M,
Stanley NF,
Waring H
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
australian journal of experimental biology and medical science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0004-945X
DOI - 10.1038/icb.1972.29
Subject(s) - thymectomy , spleen , biology , marsupial , lymph node , lymphocyte , lymphatic system , population , somatic cell , anatomy , physiology , immunology , medicine , zoology , myasthenia gravis , biochemistry , environmental health , gene
Summary The effects of neonatal thymectomy of the pouch young of the quokka ( Setonix brachyurus ) on somatic growth and peripheral lymphocyte numbers are described. Removal of the superficial thymus alone before day 10, or both the superficial and thoracic thymus glands before day 20 (a) was without effect on subsequent body weights, spleen weights, or numbers of blood erythrocytes, and (b) depressed the number of circulating small lymphocytes to about the same extent with both operations. The slow spontaneous recovery to normal values was very much slower after complete thymectomy. Early removal of the superficial thymus alone had no effect on the pcriarteriolar lymphocyte population in the spleen and the paracortical lymphocytes in the mesenteric lymph node; both were reduced after early total thymectomy.