Subtotal Thymectomy Does not Compromise Cellular Immunity in Young Mice: Aortopexy with or without Thymectomy

Abstract

Aortopexy is performed in infants with tracheomalasia, and thymectomy of the left lobe is often required in this operation. This study aimed to ascertain the effect of thymectomy on the cellular immunity in young mice. Spleen weights and the distributions of splenic lymphocytes on the cell cycle were not significantly changed during the cell cycle, however the DNA histogram showed a significant increase in the S phase fraction on the addition of Con A after third-quarter thymectomy compared with a sham operation. This result suggests that the residual thymus after subtotal thymectomy may continue to play an important role in the cellular immunity.