[Quantitative interrelationships between the T- and B-cell populations of mouse lymphoid organs]

The number of thymocytes and splenic T-lymphocytes correlate negatively. After the treatment of mice with cortisol, this negative correlation changes for a positive one. It is proposed that the negative correlation between cortisone-sensitive thymocytes and splenic T cells is mediated by cortisone-resistant thymocytes. The negative correlations were also found between amounts of T-cells in mesenteric lymph nodes and in Peyer's patches, the positive correlations being seen between numbers of splenic and lymph nodes T-lymphocytes. No correlations between B-cell populations in different organs were revealed. Apparently, correlations between lymphocyte populations reflect some aspect of hierachic structure of the lymphoid system.