Abstract
Summary
Lysozyme activity in the kidneys of lethally irradiated mice treated with homologous bone marrow (HBM) was markedly elevated during the 2nd week after irradiation and transplantation compared to the normal, isologous bone marrow (IBM)-treated or controls which were irradiated only. Measurement of lysozyme activity on day 9 in the normal, IBM, HBM, and irradiated control groups showed levels of 180, 350, 459, and 29 μg/g of bone marrow, respectively. In the same groups on day 9 the kidney levels were 28, 42, 196, and 21 μg/g of tissue, respectively. Measurements were also made on small intestine, lung, spleen, colon, lymph node, submaxillary gland, thymus, liver, and plasma. The changes in lysozyme activity in some of the organs are probably associated with transplantation of granulopoietic elements. Biochemical significance of lysozyme is not known, but it may reflect immunological activity. In some of our lymphatic tissue homogenates examined microscopically not all cells were disrupted, so that the experimental procedure of freezing and thawing the homo-genate, then rehomogenizing, was carried out. This increased the enzyme activity yield in nearly every organ studied.
We are grateful to Dr. D. G. Doherty for his help during this investigation.
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