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The human thymus. II. Partial characterization of thymocytes separated on bovine serum albumin gradients. 1980

F L Meyskens, and J F Jones

Thymocyte populations from 9 postnatal normal human thymuses (9 mth to 14 yr) were partially characterized after separation from structural elements by mechanical dissociation or spontaneous release from short-term explant cultures. Populations were fractionated on a 17 to 35% discontinuous bovine serum albumin (BSA) gradient and fractions characterized by morphology, pulse labeling index, spontaneous incorporation of labeled thymidine and uridine, E-rosetting ability (4 degrees C) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) activity. The following observations were made: (1) the gradient distribution of lymphocytes followed a bell-shaped curve, but with a greater percentage of less dense cells in older thymuses; (2) 60 to 80% of lymphoblasts (3-7% of total thymocytes) were in the 21-23% BSA fractions; (3) spontaneous incorporation of labeled thymidine and uridine was highest in 21-23% fractions; (4) 40 to 55% of lymphoblasts were in active DNA synthesis; (5) less than 50% of lymphocytes from the 17 to 21% fractions formed E rosettes compared to 95% of unfractioned cells; (6) one or two distinct peaks of TdT activity were identified; four thymuses had one peak in the small/medium lymphocyte fractions, whereas in two specimens a second peak was seen. Enrichment of lymphocyte subpopulations of the human thymus for immature cells may aid in further delineation of thymic function in developing man.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008214 Lymphocytes White blood cells formed in the body's lymphoid tissue. The nucleus is round or ovoid with coarse, irregularly clumped chromatin while the cytoplasm is typically pale blue with azurophilic (if any) granules. Most lymphocytes can be classified as either T or B (with subpopulations of each), or NATURAL KILLER CELLS. Lymphoid Cells,Cell, Lymphoid,Cells, Lymphoid,Lymphocyte,Lymphoid Cell
D009000 Monocytes Large, phagocytic mononuclear leukocytes produced in the vertebrate BONE MARROW and released into the BLOOD; contain a large, oval or somewhat indented nucleus surrounded by voluminous cytoplasm and numerous organelles. Monocyte
D009713 Nucleotidyltransferases A class of enzymes that transfers nucleotidyl residues. EC 2.7.7. Nucleotidyltransferase
D002417 Cattle Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor. Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D002469 Cell Separation Techniques for separating distinct populations of cells. Cell Isolation,Cell Segregation,Isolation, Cell,Cell Isolations,Cell Segregations,Cell Separations,Isolations, Cell,Segregation, Cell,Segregations, Cell,Separation, Cell,Separations, Cell
D002499 Centrifugation, Density Gradient Separation of particles according to density by employing a gradient of varying densities. At equilibrium each particle settles in the gradient at a point equal to its density. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Centrifugations, Density Gradient,Density Gradient Centrifugation,Density Gradient Centrifugations,Gradient Centrifugation, Density,Gradient Centrifugations, Density
D004247 DNA A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine). DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000375 Aging The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the passage of time. Senescence,Aging, Biological,Biological Aging
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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