Effect of Thymectomy on Hamsters. ∗

Abstract

Summary

The effect of thymectomy at various ages on Syrian hamsters has been investigated. Forty-four per cent of the animals thymectomized and sham-operated at less than 24 hours did not survive the first 3 post-operative weeks. The remaining animals, however, appeared as healthy and survived as long as their control littermates. A mild wasting disease occurred in 10% of the thymectomized and sham-operated animals. The incidence of wasting disease and of lethality was equally distributed in the 2 sexes. Survival of skin homografts was extended in animals thymectomized at less than 24 hours (MST = 14.8 days in contrast to 10.5 days in the controls). Operative mortality and cannibalism were greatly reduced and wasting disease did not occur in animals thymectomized at one week of age and X-irradiated 2 weeks later. In these animals skin homografts survived longer than in any other group in this study (MST = 22 days).