- Collection:
- Atlanta University and Clark Atlanta University Theses and Dissertations
- Title:
- The in vitro cultivation of the thymic organ in a defined medium, 1974
- Creator:
- George, Yolanda S.
- Date of Original:
- 1974-05-01
- Subject:
- Degrees, Academic
Dissertations, Academic - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- theses
dissertations - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- The objective of this study was to develop an in vitro system with the thymic organ in which derepression of the embryonic function in lymphoblastic leukemia could be studied. This investigation is based on the data that showed alkaline phosphatase activity in embryonic thymic cells and leukemic thymic cells but not in normal or non leukemic thymic cells. Sixteen day embryonic, 1 and 7 day thymic organs of C57B1 mice were cultivated in a defined medium including hydrocortisone and insulin. These cultures were treated with 5 bromo 2' deoxyuridine, urethan and a mouse leukemia virus from a C57B1 mouse. There was a histological evaluation of these mice for immature lymphocytes and a histochemical evaluation for alkaline phosphatase. Results showed that the uncultured 16 day embryonic thymus had alkaline phosphatase in the subcapsular region. Culturing the embryonic thymus for 27 days increased the alkaline phosphatase activity such that the activity was found in cells throughout the thymic organ. Treatment of the embryonic thymus further increased the alkaline phosphatase in cultures that had been incubated for 27 days. In 1 day thymic cultures alkaline phosphatase activity was increased after 3 days treatment. Six days after treatment alkaline phosphatase activity was decreased to the level of normal in the 5 bromo 21 deoxyuridine and mouse leukemia virus treated cultures. The alkaline phosphatase activity was not reduced in the urethan treated cultures until 10 days after treatment. No increase in enzyme activity was found in either the 1 day uncultured thymus, the 1 day untreated thymic cultures, the 7 day uncultured thymus, the 7 day untreated cultures or the 7 day treated cultures. Since alkaline phosphatase is found in the uncultured and cultured 16 day embryonic thymus and is present for a short time in the 1 day treated thymic cultures but not present in the 1 day uncultured and cultured untreated thymic cultures, it is concluded that the alkaline phosphatase is a derepressed embryonic function in lymphoblastic leukemia.
Date of award: 5/1/1974
Degree type: thesis
Degree name: Master of Science (MS)
Granting institution: Atlanta University
Department: Department of Biology
Advisor: Lumb, Judith Rae - Metadata URL:
- http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12322/cau.td:1974_george_yolanda_s
- Holding Institution:
- Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library
- Rights:
-
