Does anyone have any idea how the nude mouse compares in terms of the
number of lymphocytes one would expect to see in its blood? I'm aware
that the nude mouse is for all intents and purposes athymic, meaning
that there is a lack of immunologically mature lymphocytes and a loss
of ability to recognise non-self cells, but does this mean that there
would actually be a decreased overall number of lymphocytes in the
bloodstream, or would there be an equivalent number of cells (compared
to a immunocompetent mouse) but these cells would be effectively
unable to elicit an immune response?
It'd be interesting to know, as I've not managed to find anyone so far
that can confidently answer this.
Cheers,
G
