The in vitro maturation of the embryonic chicken thymus, 1: : Development of an Organ Culture System

• An organ culture technique is described which permits the lymphoid development of the thymic anlagen of 10-day-old chick embryos for at least 10 days in vitro. Grid organ cultures of a modified Trowell type were employed. Among several tissue culture media tested, Waymouth's MB 752/1 medium gave superior results. In initial experiments this medium was supplemented with heat-inactivated horse serum and embryo-extract. Subsequently it was found that this supplement could be substituted for by chicken serum alone. The morphological development of the embryonic thymic anlagen in organ culture has been characterized. Typical lymphoid cells developed from the initial lymphoid precursor cells. Late in the culture period, large numbers of small lymphocytes appeared. Extensive cell proliferation was demonstrated during the first 6 days of culture by means of autoradiography. This organ culture technique should facilitate the further analysis of factors influencing thymic lymphocytopoiesis as well as of the role of the thymus in the development of lymphocyte functions.

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NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)

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