Effects of radiation on thymic CD45⁻ MHC class II⁺ adherent cells.

Recovery of CD45⁻ MHC class II⁺ adherent cells from normal mice and groups of mice transplanted after either 650, 1000, or 1400 cGy and analyzed on day 5, 15, or 28 after BMT (n = 10 for each group and time point). Cells were collected from the thymus and plated overnight, and adherent cells were then analyzed. All values are the mean number of cells ± SD. Differences between groups were analyzed by 2-tailed t test with unequal distributions. On day 5 (▤), P < .001 (normal vs all BMT groups); on day 15 (■), (P < .001 normal vs BMT); and on day 28 (▥) (P < .01, normal vs BMT). On day 28,P < .04 (650 vs 1000 cGy), and P < .01 (650 vs 1400 cGy). ▪ indicates day 0.