Open Collections

The effect of thymectomy on the course of experimental immune thyroiditis in mice

University of British Columbia

The purpose of this project was to experimentally induce thyroiditis in the mouse and to examine any influence thymectomy might have on its development. Immunization was performed using homologous thyroid extract emulsified in Freund's adjuvant. The mice were thymectomized within 18 hours of birth using a suction technique. Results indicated that the incidence of thyroid lesions were reduced by 25 per cent with thymectomy. Serum antibody levels of an anti-thyroid nature were not reduced, however, as detected by a tanned cell haemagglutination technique. These results are in accordance with recent evidence that the thymus is important in the development of cellular immunity while immunoglobulin production is dependent on a separate immune system probably involving the bursa of Fabricius in chickens or its homologue in mammals.

Text

2011-08-04

For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/36496

Zoology

University of British Columbia

Graduate