Fetal Liver and Thymus: Roles in the Ontogenesis of the Mouse Immune System

摘要

Liver cells or thymic grafts from homozygous embryonic mice were subjected to passage through appropriate nonoperated or thymectomized adult F1 hybrids. Passage through a nonthymectomized host was required for masturation of potential immunologically competent cells derived from embryonic liver; this was not true with regard to cells derived from a fetal thymic graft. Cells from embryonic liver were found first in the host thymus while those from thymic grafts appeared to migrate exclusively to peripheral lymphoid tissues.