Traffic of lymphocytes in the thoracic duct and renal lymph after allotransplantation and in immunosuppression.

A marked rise is seen in the number of white blood cells in the lymph leaving the sheep kidney after allografting; the number of lymphocytes leaving the kidney rising in direct relation to the degree of damage from acute rejection. No such rise is demonstrable in the number of lymphocytes in the thoracic duct lymph of sheep with rejecting kidney allografts. Indeed, there is an apparent decrease in the number of lymphocytes in the thoracic duct lymph of sheep with rejecting kidney allografts. Indeed, there is an apparent decrease in the number of circulating lymphocytes in the body when acute rejection is fully developed. Animals on immunosuppressive regimens show no alteration in the number of lymphocytes collected on thoracic duct cannulation, but immunosuppression appears to reduce the lymphocyte traffic through the kidney.