A novel experimental system of organ-localized autoimmune diseases in the mouse

A new animal model of organ-localized autoimmune diseases which are induced in almost all strains of mice by neonatal thymectomy is presented briefly in this review. The organs and tissues frequently affected include the thyroid, glandular stomach, prostate, ovary, and testis. The pathological patterns with some consideration on clinical features are summarized, compared with those of the corresponding human diseases. Immunobiological mechanism for the actual development of post-thymectomy autoimmunity is also discussed based on the results of our extensive experiments of cell transfer and prevention of the development of autoimmune diseases.