Abstract
An attempt has been made to find out if all the long‐lived lymphocytes in the rat are recirculating between blood and lymph.Selective labelling of long‐lived lymphocytes was obtained by daily injections of 3H‐thymidine for a period of 2–3 weeks, and by subsequently waiting at least 14 days after the last injection. The rats were then depleted of recirculating lymphocytes by continuous drainage of thoracic duct lymph for 2–4 days. The content of labelled cells in blood and thoracic duct lymph at various stages during the drainage period was evaluated by radioautographic and radiochemical techniques. The lymph depletion caused a reduction in the percentage of labelled cells in thoracic duct lymph, but not in blood, where actually an increase in the percentage of labelled lymphocytes was recorded.The results suggest that there is a group of long‐lived lymphocytes in rats which do not recirculate between blood and lymph.
Published Version
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