EMBRYONIC MOUSE THYMOCYTE DEVELOPMENT - ENHANCING EFFECT OF CORTICOSTERONE AT PHYSIOLOGICAL LEVELS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 33  (2) , 241-246
Abstract
The action of corticosterone on embryonic mouse thymus development was studied in vitro. Effects of the hormone on lymphoid differentiation varied according to the dose. A dose of 0.2-1.0 .mu.g/ml had an enhancing effect, resulting in an increase in the proportion of Thy-1.2 positive cells as compared with control cultures. Also, 2-50 .mu.g/ml had an inhibitory effect, appearing to selectively kill small lymphocytes while leaving large and medium lymphocytes intact. At higher doses these immature cells were also killed.