Stem Cells and Small Lymphocytes of Congenitally Asplenic-Athymic Mice Quantitative and Autoradiographic Results

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Abstract
A new type of animal: mice with congenital absence of both the spleen and the thymus (ASAT mice) were investigated. Hemato- and lymphocytopoietic findings in these mice were compared to findings in congenitally asplenic (AS), congenitally athymic (AT), and normal mice. Major findings were: normal numbers of CFU-S [stem cell colony forming unit] in bone marrow of ASAT mice and presence of CFU-S in lymph nodes of these mice; high numbers of .theta.-positive cells in the bone marrow of ASAT and AT mice; low number of bone marrow lymphocytes as well as thoracic duct lymphocytes in ASAT and AT mice; and comparable proliferative kinetics of small lymphocytes in all 4 groups of mice, an exception being a rapid appearance of newly-formed small lymphocytes in thoracic duct and lymph nodes of ASAT mice.