[Cytologic profile of mouse thymus and spleen after gamma-irradiation]

Quantitative study of thymus and spleen cytoarchitectonics performed in mice one day after gamma irradiation revealed peculiarities of response of certain morphological zones of the organs along with common changes of the organ cellular composition (lymphocytopenia, destructive processes intensification, granulocyte reaction and decrease of mitotic activity). In thymus changes of cytoarchitectonics of cortical substance (especially in subcapsular zone) are connected with sharp intensification of cell destruction, which implicates lymphocyte loss and with complete suppression of cell mitotic activity and differentiation, with medullar substance of thymus being the most stable structure in cellular composition. Lymphoid nodules without germinal centres, cytoarchitectonics of which, despite certain changes to greater extent resembles control indexes, can be considered the most stable structure in spleen, where irradiation completely suppresses germinal centres of lymphoid nodules. Red pulp appeares to be more labile zone in the organ and its architectonics is mostly subjected to alteration in irradiation.