THE CELLULAR COMPOSITION OF THYMUS: A COMPARISON BETWEEN CORTISOL-TREATED AND AGED C57/BL MICE

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Abstract
The various cell types in mouse thymus have been defined histologically and quantitative comparisons made between the proportions of different cells in young, old and young cortisol-treated animals. Cortisol treatment resulted, within two days, in a loss of lymphocytes and a rise in the proportion of macrophages and fibroblasts. This pattern was similar to that characteristic of old thymus, except that the loss of lymphocytes was greater after cortisol injection and there was no increase in collagen. The remaining lymphocytes in old mice differed in their ultrastructure from those both before and after cortisol treatment. The mitotic index was similar in all preparations. The results are interpreted to mean that lymphocyte loss in old age is due to an accelerated rate of cell death and the rise in the proportion of other cell types may be a result of the drop in lymphocyte density.

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