Repopulation of Thymus by Immunologically Competent Cells Derived from Donor Marrow

Abstract

Many of the sublethally irradiated BlF₁ and B6D2F₁ mice injected intraperitoneally with thymus cells from parental strain donors died within 90 days, owing presumably to an immunological reaction by the implanted cells against the recipient. Likewise, regenerated thymus tissue of lethally irradiated BIF₁ mice injected with C57BL bone marrow cells induced a fatal wasting disease on implantation in sublethally irradiated B6D2F₁ mice. It was concluded, therefore, that regenerated thymus tissue in lethally irradiated BlF₁ mice injected with C57BL bone marrow was repopulated by immunologically competent cells derived from the donor marrow.