2nd Thymus in the mouse

[Immunologist]

Here is a call for discussion. In March (Science, March 2, Evidence for a functional second thymus in mice) a German team reported having isolated a second thymus (YES A BRAND NEW PREVIOUSLY UNIDENTIFIED ORGAN) in the mouse http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16513945&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum.

This has clear consequences for teams who were previously doing thymectomy to prevent lymphocyte development. Does anyone performed thymectomy in mice? If yes, what is the remaining population found in periphery? How did you address that it was peripheral expansion?

[Genecks]

That's going to screw up a lot of research projects.

I'm pretty sure you could message some institutions and ask questions.

 

I believe there is a particular one you could email, I can't remember the name, a prestigious medical/research facility..

Hopkin's?

 

I always like to e-mail professors at different universities and medical staff at facilities about information pertaining to such research and development. The answers typically come more quickly. Sometimes they'll have a pre-typed email for those with questions.

 

I've found emailing people with certain specialties gets a more detailed and specific answer.