T CELL MATURATION - ROLE OF AN INSOLUBLE THYMIC FRACTION

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 36  (3) , 245-252
Abstract
An insoluble thymic fraction, free of thymocytes and thymic hormone, was injected i.p to C57B1/6 mice. Following this injection, marked changes were noted in thymocyte populations: these consisted mainly in a significant increase of subcapsular prothymocytes, peaking at day 7. These observations were made by histological examination and confirmed by a study of physical characteristics of thymocyte populations. The possibility that this insoluble thymic fraction might have a biologically active component responsible for prothymocyte recruitment was examined.