THE BEHAVIOUR OF THYMUS GRAFTS IN HIGH AND LOW LEUKAEMIA STRAINS OF MICE

Abstract
SUMMARY: Subcutaneous isografts of whole thymuses in mice of strains AKR and C3H have demonstrated that graft growth is determined partly by the age of the host, but primarily by the age of the graft.Thymuses from one‐week‐old C3H mice in six‐month‐old hosts underwent weight changes synchronous with the growth and involution of the thymus in intact C3H mice.AKR thymuses grew to a larger size, and exhibited higher mitotic activity than C3H thymus grafts in (AKR × C3H)F1 hybrid mice.No changes were observed in the absolute weight or mitotic activity of the lymphoid organs of mice bearing actively growing axillary thymus grafts.A slight relative weight increase was observed in the axillary lymph nodes draining the graft site, compared with the opposite axillary nodes, but this was not associated with increased mitotic activity in these nodes.
Funding Information
  • Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria