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Cultivation, characterization and modulation of rat thymic nonlymphoid cells in vitro

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Abstract

Thymic fragments of young adult rats were cultivated in vitro using an explant technique. Two weeks later, non-lymphoid cells were characterized by enzyme-cytochemistry and immuno-cytochemistry. Based on cytomorphological criteria and cell-specific markers approximately 95% of cells were classified into 3 main types: epithelial cells, macrophages and fibroblasts. The effect of dexamethasone and amphotericin B, known modulators of cell growth in culture was also studied. Quantitative analysis showed that amphotericin B inhibited proliferation of macrophages and epithelial cells, while dexamethasone suppressed proliferation of fibroblasts and promoted growth of epithelial cells.

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Abbreviations

TNLC:

Thymic Non-Lymphoid Cells

NSE:

Non-Specific Esterase

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Čolić, M. Cultivation, characterization and modulation of rat thymic nonlymphoid cells in vitro . Cytotechnology 5, 107–115 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00365427

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