Radiophosphorus Measurement of the Lifespan of Lymphocytes in the Rabbit

¹ From the Department of Physiology, Yale Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut

Measurements of the lifespan of lymphocytes from radioisotope data yield a value of about 2 weeks whereas thoracic duct collection indicates that the circulating lymphocytes are replaced twice daily. In an attempt to reconcile these findings, the relationship of lymphocytes in nodes, thoracic duct and peripheral blood was studied by means of radio phosphorus labeling. A correlation was found between the specific activity of the deoxyribose-nucleic acids (DNA) of lymphocytes in the nodes and duct. A rougher correlation was observed between the node and blood lymphocytes. Both node and blood DNA specific activity showed diphasic curves of 3- and 12-day duration. With operative trauma, labeled cells disappeared from the nodes and blood. Nonlabeled cells, probably extravascular, entered the circulation. The conclusion is reached that lymphocytes persist in the blood stream for a minimum of 12 hours as shown by the collection data, for 15 days in the nodes and blood stream as demonstrated by the isotope findings and that, in addition, these cells persist in extravascular locations for a length of time not measured by either of these techniques.

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