| Abstract: | Lymphopoiesis with respect to recirculating and non-recirculating small lymphocytes was measured simultaneously in rats thymectomized as adults. Removal of the thymus at four to five weeks of age had a profound inhibitory effect upon the production of recirculating cells, whereas the formation of non-recirculating lymphocytes was only slightly depressed. Thymectomy had approximately the same impact of lymphopoiesis as thymectomy and exposure of the animal to a large dose of whole body X- and γ-irradiation. The latter finding, and the failure of a thoracic duct cell transfusion to augment lymphocyte production, accord with the view that the thymus is the principle intermediate source of recirculating small lymphocytes in the normal, unstimulated animal. |
