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Thymus-dependent increase in splenic T cell population in postpartum mice
Cell dynamics in the thymus and spleen of mice during the first allogeneic pregnancy and during postpartum were investigated. A considerable decrease in the number of thymocytes occurred at midpregnancy and was sustained until postpartum. There was an increase in the number of splenic T cells on the third postpartum day. These splenic T cells were shown to have the Lyt-1+ 2-phenotype, as determined by multiparameter analysis, and their responsiveness to Con A was increased compared with splenic T cells of virgin mice. Since such T cells were not observed in the postpartum spleen of adult thymectomized mice, they may have derived from the thymus. The response to Con A by normal virgin spleen cells was depressed when spleen cells from 3-day postpartum mice were added to the culture as the third party cells. Thus, the increased number of splenic T cells may act as inducer cells in the suppressor circuit during postpartum.
Cell dynamics in the thymus and spleen of mice during the first allogeneic pregnancy and during postpartum were investigated. A considerable decrease in the number of thymocytes occurred at midpregnancy and was sustained until postpartum. There was an increase in the number of splenic T cells on the third postpartum day. These splenic T cells were shown to have the Lyt-1+ 2-phenotype, as determined by multiparameter analysis, and their responsiveness to Con A was increased compared with splenic T cells of virgin mice. Since such T cells were not observed in the postpartum spleen of adult thymectomized mice, they may have derived from the thymus. The response to Con A by normal virgin spleen cells was depressed when spleen cells from 3-day postpartum mice were added to the culture as the third party cells. Thus, the increased number of splenic T cells may act as inducer cells in the suppressor circuit during postpartum.