Abstract
IT is now well established that the thymus plays an important part in the development of immunological competence in mammals. For example, in the mouse, removal of the thymus within the first 24 h after birth results in a serious impairment of the capacity to produce circulating antibody and the ability to reject allogeneic grafts of normal or neoplastic tissues. In addition, these mice also develop a wasting syndrome ending in early death1–7. Surgical ablation of the thymus at 6 and up to 35 days of age also produces a state of immunological impairment, which is more severe when thymectomy is performed earlier in life. These animals do not develop the wasting syndrome and have a life-span comparable with that of non-thymectomized controls8–10.
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MARTINEZ, C. Effect of Early Thymectomy on Development of Mammary Tumours in Mice. Nature 203, 1188 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/2031188a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2031188a0
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