Stem Cell Replacement in Normal Thymus Grafts.

Abstract

After initial death of most donor lymphocytes in AKR thymus grafts in normal (AKRXT6)F1 mice, there was a temporary period during which active proliferation of surviving donor lymphocytes occurred. This population of dividing lymphocytes in the thymus grafts was subsequently completely replaced by host-type cells. The results suggest that thymic lymphoid stem cells are continuously replaced by cells entering the thymus from the circulation.