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Release of Lymphocytes from the Spleen in Neonatally Thymectomized Guinea‐Pigs
Author(s) -
SANDBERG GÖRAN
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0036-553X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1972.tb00913.x
Subject(s) - spleen , thymectomy , efferent , peripheral blood , immunization , guinea pig , andrology , biology , afferent , medicine , endocrinology , immunology , immune system , myasthenia gravis
Migration of lymphocytes from the spleen into the blood was studied by comparison of the content of cells in splenic afferent and efferent blood. Guinea‐pigs thymectomized or sham‐operated at birth were investigated prior to and at various intervals after injection of sheep erythrocytes at 40 days of age. Lymphocytes were subdivided into classes on the basis of different mitochondrial content. Thymectomy without immunization abolished the normal splenic output of lymphocytes with high mitochondrial content (large lymphocytes), while the output of lymphocytes with low and medium mitochondrial content was unaffected. The blood was deficient in lymphocytes when compared with the sham‐operated controls. Immunization further emphasized the difference between the thymectomized and sham‐operated animals. In the latter it caused an increased difference in number of lymphocytes between splenic efferent and afferent blood on the 9th day. This peak value, indicating increased output of lymphocytes from the spleen, was significantly higher than the value found in the thymectomized animals. It is concluded that release of splenic lymphocytes into the blood is influenced by immunization with sheep erythrocytes. Furthermore, the present data indicate that this release of lymphocytes after immunization is dependant on the presence of an intact thymus.