In vivo thymocyte maturation. BUdR labeling of cycling thymocytes and phenotypic analysis of their progeny support the single lineage model.

Spontaneously cycling thymocytes have been labeled in vitro and in vivo by bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR), a non-reutilized precursor of DNA that is detectable by a monoclonal antibody. Studies of BUdR-labeled cells have included the determination of their anatomical location, size, and nuclear aspects and of their cell surface phenotype. Dividing blasts were initially located in the cortex (mainly but not exclusively in the subcapsular region) and expressed the double-negative (Lyt-2- L3T4-) and double-positive (Lyt-2+ L3T4+) phenotypes. The fate of these cells have been determined in days after BUdR administration, and we observed an initial double-negative to double-positive transition that was followed by the death of the majority of labeled cells in the cortex. As of day 3, the few surviving cells acquired a mature helper phenotype (Lyt-2- L3T4+) and began migrating into the thymic medulla. The exclusive medullary location of blast cell progeny was observed between days 5 and 10 post-BUdR administration. These results suggest a direct precursor-product relationship between dividing cortical cells and mature medullary thymocytes, and therefore support the single lineage model of intrathymic differentiation.