Proliferation of human lymphoid cells. Lymphocytopoiesis and cell cycle parameters in isolated perfused human spleens.

Parameters of the cell cycle of lymphoid cells and the rate of production of small lymphocytes and mature plasma cells were estimated in human spleens. 12 normal and 1 enlarged spleen with lymphatic hyperplasia were labelled either by a pulse or continuously with 3H-TdR-thymidine during normothermic perfusion of the isolated spleens. Biopsies of splenic tissue were taken at different intervals and evaluated autoradiographically. The mean initial labelling index of immunoblasts was 73% and for plasmoblasts 52%. The labelling index for small lymphocytes and mature plasma cells increased initially from 0% to 1%, and up to 25% respectively after 14 h. The duration of the S-phase, as determined by double labelling, was 8.26 h for lymphoid blasts. Data from the percentage labelled mitosis curve resulted in a minimal tG2 of about 1 h and tG2 + tM of about 4 h. The estimated generation time was about 11.5 h. The results found on the hyperplastic spleen were comparable to those on the normal spleen.