Abstract
Bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO) induces cortical atrophy in the rat thymus. We studied the potential involvement of the cortical epithelium in TBTO-induced thymotoxicity by (immuno) histology and electron microscopy. Juvenile male Wistar rats were orally intubated once with either 30 or 90 mg/kg TBTO and sacrificed 4 or 10 days later. A dose-dependent thymic atrophy occurred. Anti-keratin labelling showed epithelial cell aggregation in some animals at 10 days after exposure to 90 mg/kg TBTO, when recovery of the thymus was apparent. At the ultrastructural level, a relative shift was observed from “pale” to darker epithelial cell subtypes at the 30 mg/kg dose level, both at day 4 and day 10 after intubation. This phenomenon was not observed after exposure to 90 mg/kg TBTO. Both the altered keratin distribution and the increased electron density of the epithelium probably represent non-specific phenomena. The present morphological observations support the concept that TBTO affects the thymus via its action on lymphoid cells rather than on the epithelial compartment.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
De Waal EJ, Schuurman HJ, Loeber JG, Van Loveren H, Vos JG (1992) Alterations in the cortical thymic epithelium of rats after in vivo exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD): an (immuno) histological study. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 115: 80–88
Kampinga J, Berges S, Boyd RL, Brekelmans P, Colic M, Van Ewijk W, Kendall MD, Ladyman H, Nieuwenhuis P, Ritter MA, Schuurman HJ, Tournefier A (1989) Thymic epithelial antibodies: immunohistochemical analysis and introduction of nomenclature. Thymus 13: 165–173
Kendall MD, Schuurman HJ, Fenton J, Broekhuizen R, Kampinga J (1988) Implantation of cultured thymic fragments in congenitally athymic (nude) rats. Ultrastructural characteristics of the developing microenvironment. Cell Tissue Res 254: 283–294
Krajnc EI, Wester PW, Loeber JG, Van Leeuwen FXR, Vos JG, Vaessen HAMG, Van Der Heyden CA (1984) Toxicity of bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide in the rat. I. Short-term effects on general parameters and on the endocrine and lymphoid system. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 75: 363–384
Miller K, Scott MP, Foster JR (1984) Thymic involution in rats given diets containing dioctyltin dichloride. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 30: 62–70
Penninks A, Kuper F, Spit BJ, Seinen W (1985) On the mechanism of dialkyltin-induced thymus involution. Immunopharmacology 10: 1–10
Penninks AH, Pieters RHH, Snoeij NJ, Seinen W (1991) Organotin-induced thymus atrophy. In: Kendall MD, Ritter MA (eds) The thymus in immunotoxicology. Thymus Update 4: 57–79
Pieters RHH, Kampinga J, Bol-Schoenmakers M, Lam BW, Penninks AH, Seinen W (1989) Organotin-induced thymus atrophy concerns the OX-44 immature thymocytes. Relation to the interaction between early thymocytes and thymic epithelial cells? Thymus 14: 79–88
Pieters RHH, Bol M, Lam BW, Seinen W, Penninks AH (1992) The organotin-induced thymus atrophy, characterized by depletion of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, is preceded by a reduction of the immature CD4−CD8+TcRαß-/lowCD2high thymoblast subset. Immunology 76: 203–208
Raffray M, Cohen GM (1991) Bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide induces programmed cell death (apoptosis) in immature rat thymocytes. Arch Toxicol 65: 135–139
Sato T, Shamoto M (1973) A simple rapid polychrome stain for embedded tissue. Stain Technol 48: 223–227
Snoeij NJ, Penninks AH, Seinen W (1988) Dibutyltin and tributyltin compounds induce thymus atrophy in rats due to a selective action on thymic lymphoblasts. Int J Immunopharmacol 10: 891–899
Van De Wijngaert FP, Kendall MD, Schuurman HJ, Rademakers LHPM, Kater L (1984) Heterogeneity of epithelial cells in the human thymus. An ultrastructural study. Cell Tissue Res 237: 227–237
Verdier F, Virat M, Schweinfurth H, Descotes J (1991) Immunotoxicity of bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide in the rat. J Toxicol Environ Health 32: 307–317
Volsen SG, Barrass N, Scott MP, Miller K (1989) Cellular and molecular effects of di-n-octyltin dichloride on the rat thymus. Int J Immunopharmacol 11: 703–715
Vos JG, De Klerk A, Krajnc EI, Kruizinga W, Van Ommen B, Rozing J (1984) Toxicity of bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide in the rat. II. Suppression of thymus-dependent immune responses and of parameters of nonspecific resistance after short-term exposure. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 75: 387–408
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
De Waal, E.J., Schuurman, HJ., Rademakers, L.H.P.M. et al. The cortical epithelium of the rat thymus after in vivo exposure to bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO). Arch Toxicol 67, 186–192 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01973306
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01973306