Abstract
Summary and Conclusions
New data presented in conjunction with data published by Potter and Ward indicate that a marked increase in the number of mitochondria in lymphocytes of C58 mice inoculated with Line U leukemia has occurred in the course of 350 transfers. This increase in the number of mitochondria has occurred concomitantly with a decrease in the killing time, following a standard number of cells, from about 15 days to 4 days. The number of mitochondria in lymphocytes of Line I has not shown a similar increase in the course of 500 transfers made during this same period of time, and the interval between inoculation and death has remained unchanged at approximately 4 days. In making these new counts it was not possible to follow in every respect the technic for staining of mitochondria used by Potter and Ward.
Certain other differences between Line U and Line I have not changed since the time of the previous study of these leukemias. In spite of the increase in mitochondria, the lymphocytes of Line U remain smaller than those of Line I. In morphology, the mitochondria have retained the characteristics which distinguished them previously. Since the range in size of lymphocytes is the same in the two leukemias, although the means are different, if size is inversely correlated with the age of the lymphocyte as has been suggested, 3 , 4 , then the 2 groups of lymphocytes share the same ages and stages of differentiation. The persisting differences between Line U and Line I, therefore, may be characteristics of the lines of leukemia and not differences due to the age and developmental stage of the lymphocytes.
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