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Abstract Sodium periodate (NaIO4) treatment of lymphocytes can induce blastogenic transformation similar to that caused by plant lectins. In this study we have found that spleen cells from congenitally athymic (nude) mice do not undergo blastogenesis when treated with NaIO4, in contrast to the extensive blastogenesis observed with NaIO4-treated spleen cells from normal littermates (heterozygous for the nude gene) and CBA/J mice. Prior treatment with NaIO4 only partially reduced the capacity of nude spleen cells to respond to a B cell mitogen. Lack of stimulation of nude spleen cells treated with NaIO4 indicates the possible T cell specificity of this mitogenic agent.
Thurman et al. (1974) studied this question.