Demonstration of a cyclic renewal of the lymphocyte precursor cells in the quail thymus during embryonic and perinatal life
Jotereau, F.V.; Le Douarin, N.M.
Journal of Immunology 129(5): 1869-1877
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 7119436 Document Number: 183549
The dynamics of the successive generations of lymphocytes that arise in the embryonic and perinatal quail thymus was studied by taking advantage of the possibility to identify cells of the quail incorporation. Before the 2nd entry of LPC, the dividing cells are clearly spread uniformly over the whole thymic tissue, whereas after the 2nd entry of LPC, cell divisions coincide with the site where the new stem cells have homed, i.e., in the medullar and under the thymic capsule. The internal cortex contains relatively few dividing cells. The replacement of the lymphocytes arising from the successive waves of LPC was studied and shown to proceed within a few days in both the cortical and medullary compartments.