Age-associated reshaping of the thymocyte differentiation model in male rats
2001
Leposavic, G. (Faculty of Pharmacy, Belgrade (Yugoslavia). Department of Physiology) | Pejcic-Karapetrovic, B. | Kosec, D. | Vidic-Dankovic, B.
In order to elucidate the features of putative age-related changes in the intrathymic T cell maturation sequence, the thymus weight, thymocyte yield and relative proportions of thymocyte subsets were analyzed at distinct maturational stages (delineated by analysis of the expression of CD4/CD8 coreceptor molecules and TCR molecular complex) in male AO rats, from the peripubertal period (1 month of age) until 10 months of age. In 2-month-old rats both the thymus weight and lymphoid content were greater than in 1-month-old rats. The values of both parameters in 4-month-old rats were reduced to the corresponding values in 1-month-old rats. These levels were sustained until 10 months of age. However, the thymocyte composition was subjected to substantial changes during the whole period studied, probably due to alterations in action of both extrinsic and instinsic foctors which influence the ability of the thymus to support T cell maturation and/or feedback regulatory action of intrathymic CD4+ T cells on thymocytopoiesis (between the age of 7 and 10 months).
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