RANKL-mediated medullary expansion inhibits T cell development.

<p>(<b>A and B</b>) Mosaic images of H&E stained thymic sections of 6-week and 3-month old wild type and RANKL-Tg mice showing progressive expansion of the medulla in response to RANKL expression. Scale bar = 500 µm. Micrographs are representative of at least three independent experiments. (<b>C–F</b>). Thymocyte suspensions from 6-week and 3-month old wild type and RANKL transgenic mice were stained with anti-CD4, -CD8, -CD44 and-CD25 antibodies and the total numbers of the different thymocyte subpopulations were analyzed by flow cytometry. Bar graphs represent the mean+SEM<b>.</b> n = 9 for each genotype, results were pooled from at least three independent experiments. DP = double positive; DN1-4 = double negative stages 1–4.