Quantitative Studies on the Decay of Lymphocytes in the Blood of the Mouse

Abstract

The number of decaying lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of the mouse was determined by means of the dye exclusion test. Under normal conditions the lymphocyte decay was very constant (1.1%). Treatment with pertussis vaccine, anti‐lymphocyte serum, and hydrocortisone either alone or in combination greatly influenced the number of decaying blood lymphocytes. Treatment with heparin markedly increased the number of circulating non‐viable lymphocytes, probably due to inhibition of the reticuloendothelial macrophage system. Methods for determination of the average period a decaying lymphocyte stays in blood were elaborated and used under normal and experimental conditions.

Death of Blood Lymphocytes Studied by Supravital Dye Exclusion and 3H‐Thymidine‐Autoradiography

“…Furthermore, labelling percentages of unseparated and separated small lymphocytes indicated that no selective loss of labelled or unlabelled cells occurred during the process of separation. About 1.6 % of blood lymphocytes were found to decaya value very close to that obtained in previous work (Claesson & Olsson 1971).…”

“…The lymphocytes in peripheral blood consist of subpopulations which differ with respect to 1967)* Dye studies have shown that about 1 % of murim blood lymphocytes are dying (Claesson & Olsson 1971). These life spans (Everett ~ -. dying lymphocytes are probably derived blood was mixed with equal amounts Of a 1.8 % citrat solution and layered on 0.3 ml Lymphoprep (Nygaard L Co.; Oslo) and centrifuged at 300 G for 15 min.…”