Abstract
AbstractThe in situ thymus of the guinea pig was labeled locally with H3‐thymidine and sections of various tissues analyzed by radioautography for the location of labeled cells which might have left the thymus from 30 minutes to three days after labeling. Labeled lymphocytes were located especially in the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen, giving direct evidence for the migration of thymocytes under near‐physiological conditions. Only a few cells were found in the bone marrow, and none in the liver. The identified cells were not seen to be undergoing subsequent proliferation, but about one‐fourth of them were transforming to other cell types ‐ plasma cells, heterophil granulocytes, reticular cells, and macrophages. The fate of another portion of the cells seemed to be loss to the gut lumen through the mucosa. These data suggest that a normal function of the thymus of the adult guinea pig is the proliferation of a population of pluripotential stem cells which, after migration to other tissues, may further differentiate under appropriate stimulus. Possible applications of the local labeling technique are indicated.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
