Flow cytometric analysis of thymocyte subpopulations in mice after whole-body X-irradiation

To determined the cellular kinetics of thymocyte subpopulations in DBA1 mice after whole-body 6.8 Gy X-irradiation, they were analyzed for the expression of several cell surface antigens using flow cytometry. The results show that i) The majority of thymocytes rapidly depleted by irradiation was CD4+8+ cells. ii) radioresistant CD4+8- and CD4-8+ survived 18-48 hr after X-irradiation were considered to be relatively mature type, since they expressed high levels of CD3 and LECAM-1. iii) CD3-positive cells were detected in CD4-8- cells at 72 hr after irradiation.