Characteristics of hematopoiesis in nude mice

The state of the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and spleen was studied from the age aspect in nude mice, characterized by the presence of the recessive nu mutation. In athymic homozygous (nu/nu) individuals, various features were found in the blood system the distinguished them from heterozygous (nu/+) animals: a low lymphocyte count in the peripheral blood, bone marrow, and spleen, inhibition of erythropoiesis in the bone marrow, and hyperplasia of erythroid elements in the spleen.