[3H] thymidine labelling kinetics of peripheral blood lymphocytes in adult thymectomized mice

The appearance of labelled lymphocytes in the blood of adult thymectomized mice was followed for 21 days after a single injection of [3H] thymidine. The results showed that the expected changes in their life-span resulting from thymic deprivation were not reflected in the kinetics of labelling of these cells with this radioactively-labelled precursor for DNA synthesis. Turnover of DNA and exchange of label between cells must be considered in relation to the results, as had been previously concluded from similar studies of intact mice (Harris, 1975a).