Articles

SPLEEN REGENERATION IN MICE AFTER GAMMA IRRADIATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THYMOSIN

Authors: J Vavrova ( ) , P Petyrek ( )

Abstract

The effect of thymosin (thymic humeral factor isolated from calf thymus) on regeneration of the spleen in mice after whole-body gamma irradiation was studied. Thymosin, in varied dosages (0.1-2.0 mg/day) applied subcutaneously before and after radiation exposure, stimulated splenic regeneration as indicated by increased splenic weight, number of endogenous splenic colonies and ⁵⁹Fe  and ¹²⁵IUdR incorporation into the spleen. A control extract of brain tissue (cerebrosin) isolated in the same way as thymosin was applied to mice to verify specificity of thymosin. After cerebrosin application, a mild increase also was observed. Whereas a near maximal effect of thymosin was reached at a dosage of 0.1 mg, a comparable response with cerebrosin required a dosage of 1.0 mg. These data suggest that administration of thymosin has both a specific and nonspecific effect on splenic regeneration and proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells.

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How to Cite: Vavrova, J. & Petyrek, P. (1979) “SPLEEN REGENERATION IN MICE AFTER GAMMA IRRADIATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THYMOSIN”, Lymphology. 12(4).