Effects of xenogeneic, allogeneic and isogeneic thymus grafts on lymphocyte populations in peripheral lymphoid organs of the nude rat

In order to gain information about the effect of xenografted, allografted and isografted thymic tissue on peripheral lymphoid organs of immune-deficient rats, athymic nude LEW rats of ninth backcross–intercross were grafted with fetal calf and neonatal BD1X and LEW thymus. Adrenalectomy was also performed in some animals in order to obtain a possible enhancement of the immunological reconstitution. Both groups of isogeneic-thymus-grafted animals had more T helper cells than the nude controls. Furthermore, they had more densely populated paracortical areas in the inguinal lymph nodes and higher lymphocyte counts in the thoracic duct lymph. Finally, the inguinal lymph nodes contained germinal centres. Xenogeneic and allogeneic thymus transplants did not induce constant changes in the parameters observed compared with the untreated nudes. No clear difference was observed between the adrenalectomized and non-adrenalectomized thymicisografted animals. We therefore conclude that of all the experimental animals examined the isografted nude rats show by far the best response and that adrenalectomy seems unnecessary for the success of neonatal isogeneic thymus grafts. We also conclude that the isogeneic-thymus-grafted nude rat is a suitable tool for immunological reconstitution studies.