Runt Disease Produced in Thymectomized F1 Hybrid Mice Injected with Parental Strain Lymphoid Cells. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Thymectomy performed immediately after birth increases the susceptibility of (A X C3H) F1 recipients to runt disease (homologous disease) produced by injection of A strain parent cells. Thymectomy performed as late as 40 days after birth enhances the susceptibility of (A X C57B1)F1 recipients to homologous disease with A strain donor cells but has no demonstrable effect on susceptibility of (A X C3H) F1 recipients to C3H strain donor cells. The basis for these observations in terms of a reduction of available lympho-reticular mass and lympho-reticular reserve in the thymectomized animal is discussed. It is suggested from these observations that thymectomy even far later than the neonatal period has a significant effect on the integrity of the lympho-reticular system in mice.