Analysis of Lymphoid Cell Types Developing in Mouse Foetal Liver

The aim of the present study was to determine which lymphoid cell types, the T or the B cell population, develop in the liver during ontogeny. We employed thymus-dependent antigens, i.e. SRBC, as well as thymus-independent antigens, DNP-PLL and PVP, in both in vitro and in vivo systems. It was demonstrated that the embryonic liver contains precursors of B cells, but not T helper cells. However, the B precursor cells in the liver require a phase of differentiation and/or proliferation in the spleen to produce a detectable antibody response. In contrast, T helper cells could not be detected in the liver in this study.