Figure 6

Thymectomy enhances age-associated changes in the CD4:CD8 ratio and distribution of naïve and memory T cells. The peripheral blood from young mice, thymectomized and sham thymectomized 15 month old mice, and aged (19–20 month old) euthymic mice was analyzed with antibodies for CD4, CD8 and CD44. The median values of each population are shown with red bars. Panel A shows the CD4:CD8 ratio. Data were analyzed by Mann–Whitney Test (***p < 0.0005). Panel B shows the percent CD44^high among CD8 T cells. Panel C shows the percent of CD44^high among CD4 T cells. Data in panels B and C were analyzed by Mann–Whitney test (***p < 0.0005).