Title: Maturation of mitogenic response in foetal guinea-pig.
Abstract: Lymphocytes obtained from thymus, spleen and heart blood of 33-day-old guinea-pig foetuses and from lymph nodes of 48-day-old foetuses onwards were stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). concanavalin A (Con A) and dextran sulphate (DxS). The results, based on the analysis of ninety-five foetuses, indicated that the mitogenic responses of the guinea-pig T cells matured first in the thymus and then in the spleen and lymph nodes, in that order. The PHA and Con A responses in the thymus, spleen and lymph nodes and the DxS response in the spleen improved with the increasing age of the foetus. A clear improvement of the mitogenic responses did not take place in the blood. Thus, at birth the guinea-pig is immunologically mature as regards the PHA and Con A responses in the thymus, spleen and lymph nodes and the DxS response in the spleen. Regarding the maturation of PHA and Con A responses by lymphocytes from the blood, further studies are needed, since at birth both of these responses are clearly below the adult level.
Publication Year: 1979
Publication Date: 1979-12-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 8
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