Age-related changes of mitogen responsiveness in different lymphoid organs from outbred NMRI mice

Lymphocytes from spleen, thymus and lymph nodes from individual young adult (3--4 months) and aged (26--30 months) NMRI mice were stimulated with the mitogens Con A, PHA and LPS. 24 hours later, the number of cell with increased RNA-content (G1 cells) was determined by cytofluorometry. In parallel the 3H-thymidine incorporation after 48 hours was measured for the same cell samples. Aged animals in average produced less G1 cells and incorporated less 3H-thymidine as compared to young adults. By calculating the 3H-thymidine incorporation per G1 cell, the proliferative capacity of mitogen-induced G1 cells can be estimated. These ratios are lower in aged mice as compared to young adult, suggesting that in these animals not only less cells can be activated as measured by cytofluorometry, but also from these activated cells again fewer continue the cell cycle by initiating DNA-synthesis. In response to Con A and PHA, aged mice in average produce less G1 cells in all of the three lymphoid organs tested. In response to LPS, however, the young adult produced only few G1 cells in lymph nodes and practically none in thymus, whereas in aged animals a considerable number of G1 cells was found in both organs. Corresponding results were found for the 3H-thymidine incorporation. These results indicate that in addition to the reduction of the mitogen-response an age-related change in the distribution of mitogen-responsive cells in the different lymphoid organs takes place.