The recirculation of T and B lymphocytes in the athymic, nude rat

Scand J Immunol. 1983 Jun;17(6):551-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1983.tb00823.x.

Abstract

The recirculation of lymphocytes through the tissues and their return to the blood were compared in nude and euthymic rats. Three approaches were used: the organ distribution of 15Cr-labelled lymphocytes from nude or euthymic donors at 24 h after injection; the compartmental distribution of B and T lymphocytes as assessed by autoradiography of the spleen, lymph nodes, and Peyer's patches; and the tempo of recirculation from blood to thoracic duct lymph as estimated by counting timed fractions of lymph from a recipient of labelled lymphocytes. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) The distribution of lymphocytes between organs and within organs is very similar in nude and euthymic recipients. In particular, B lymphocytes proceed normally to the follicular areas in the absence of T cells. (2) The recirculation from blood to lymph is delayed in nude rats. (3) For equal numbers of B and T cells injected intravenously about half as many B cells as T cells enter mesenteric and cervical lymph nodes, but approximately equal numbers of B and T cells enter the spleen and Peyer's patches.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoradiography
  • B-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Cell Movement
  • Chromium Radioisotopes
  • Lymph / cytology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Mutant Strains / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Thymus Gland / abnormalities
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Chromium Radioisotopes