Pathogenesis of Graft-versus-Host Reaction I. Influence of Thymectomy and Adrenalectomy on Development of of Lymphopenia 1

Summary

Graft-vs.-host (GVH) reaction was induced in (C3H × C57B1/1)F1 hybrid mice by intravenous injection of spleen-cells from adult C3H strain donors. The lymphocyte counts of recipients that had been thymectomized and adrenalectomized did not deviate significantly from those of uninjected control animals. Thymectomy or adrenalectomy alone did not prevent the development of lymphopenia but lymphopenia during GVH was of shorter duration in adrenalectomized than intact mice. We propose that the immunological assault in GVH is directed largely against thymus-dependent lymphoid elements and that the thymus-independent lymphocytes, not subject to the primary assault as well as thymus dependent lymphocytes may be destroyed indirectly in GVH by increased adrenal secretions.