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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
Isolation and Transplantation of Different Aged Murine Thymic Grafts.
Published on: May 13, 2015
Reduced thymic size and numbers of splenic CD4+ and CD8+ cells in artificially reared mouse pups
Masako Yajima1, Junji Hoshiba, Masaki Terahara
1Department of Lactic Acid Bacteria, Food Science Institute, Division of Research and Development, Meiji Dairies Corporation, Japan. yajimama@cris.hokudai.ac.jp
The effect of early nutrition on the development of the immune tissue and T cells of mouse pups was examined. Newborn mice were divided into three experimental groups: mother-reared (MR) pups, pups that were fed on a milk substitute from the first day (AR-0), and the third day (AR-2), using a hand-feeding system. The average thymic size of the AR-2 pups was respectively significantly larger and smaller than that of the AR-0 and MR pups. In contrast, the splenic sizes of the AR-0 and AR-2 pups were greater than that of the MR pups. The numbers of CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8+ cells in the spleen of the MR pups were significantly higher than those in the AR-0 pups. These results indicate that early nutrition affected the sizes of the thymus and spleen and the composition of CD4+CD8- or CD4-CD8+ T cells in the spleen.
The effect of early nutrition on the development of the immune tissue and T cells of mouse pups was examined. Newborn mice were divided into three experimental groups: mother-reared (MR) pups, pups that were fed on a milk substitute from the first day (AR-0), and the third day (AR-2), using a hand-feeding system. The average thymic size of the AR-2 pups was respectively significantly larger and smaller than that of the AR-0 and MR pups. In contrast, the splenic sizes of the AR-0 and AR-2 pups were greater than that of the MR pups. The numbers of CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8+ cells in the spleen of the MR pups were significantly higher than those in the AR-0 pups. These results indicate that early nutrition affected the sizes of the thymus and spleen and the composition of CD4+CD8- or CD4-CD8+ T cells in the spleen.
