Journal of General Virology

Fig. 2. Induction of FDC maturation in the spleens of SCID mice. Due to an absence of mature lymphocytes, the lymphoid tissues of SCID mice are indirectly deficient in mature FDCs (inset top left). Unlike lymphocytes, FDCs are not considered to be haemopoietic in origin. Current theories suggest FDCs derive from undifferentiated stromal precursor cells within lymphoid tissues. Within 4–5 weeks of grafting SCID mice with lymphocytes or bone marrow (as a source of lymphocytes), the lymphocytes of donor origin induce the differentiation of stromal precursor cells to form mature FDC networks (inset top right). In both inset panels, spleen sections are stained with the FDC-specific antiserum FDC-M1 (red; Kosco et al., 1992).

Back to article

0001-7771 © 2001 SGM