In quest of an erythropoietic function of the adult murine thymus

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Abstract
Attempts to demonstrate participation of the thymus of adult LAF1 and C3H mice in erythropoiesis provided no evidence of a direct or indirect role for this organ. Methods of study, which included thymic radioiron uptake in the intact animal, autoradiography following labelling of thymus cells with radioiron in vivo and in vitro, and histochemical staining for hemoglobin revealed no evidence of erythropoiesis in the thymus. Thymectomy had no influence on postirradiation erythropoietic recovery as measured by erythrocyte radioiron utilization and radioiron uptake by spleen and femur. Thymus cell infusions failed to promote post-irradiation erythropoietic recovery.