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A novel aspect of the structure of the avian thymic medulla

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Abstract

We provide evidence for the compartmentalization of the avian thymic medulla and identify the avian thymic dendritic cell. The thymic anlage develops from an epithelial cord of the branchial endoderm. Branches of the cord are separated by primary septae of neural crest origin. The dilation of the primary septae produces the keratin-negative area (KNA) of the thymic medulla and fills the gaps of the keratin-positive network (KPN). Morphometric analysis indicates that the KNA takes up about half of the volume of the thymic medulla, which has reticular connective tissue, like peripheral lymphoid organs. The KNA receives blood vessels and in addition to pericytes, the myoid cells of striated muscle structure occupy this area. The myoid cells are of branchial arch or prechordal plate origin providing indirect evidence for the neural crest origin of the KNA. The marginal epithelial cells of the KPN co-express keratin and vimentin intermediate filaments, which indicate their functional peculiarity. The basal lamina of the primary septum is discontinuous on the surface of the KPN providing histological evidence for the loss of the blood-thymus barrier in the medulla. In the center of the KNA, the dendritic cells lie in close association with blood vessels, whereas the B-cells accumulate along the KPN. The organization of the KPN and KNA increases the “surface” of the so-called cortico-medullary border, thereby contributing to the efficacy of central tolerance.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Jutka Fügedi, Zsuzsa Vidra and Mária Bakó for laboratory assistance. Antibodies for tenascin, fibronectin, laminin, collagen type III, desmin, vimentin and MHC II were obtained from the Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank, developed under the auspices of the NICHD and maintained by the University of Iowa, USA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Morphology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó Str. 58, Budapest, 1094, Hungary

    Ildikó Bódi, Krisztina Minkó, Dávid Molnár, Nándor Nagy & Imre Oláh

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  1. Ildikó Bódi
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  2. Krisztina Minkó
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  3. Dávid Molnár
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  4. Nándor Nagy
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  5. Imre Oláh
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Correspondence to Imre Oláh.

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This work was supported by OTKA grant number 69061 and sponsored by Prophyl Kft., Mohács, Hungary.

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Bódi, I., Minkó, K., Molnár, D. et al. A novel aspect of the structure of the avian thymic medulla. Cell Tissue Res 359, 489–501 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-014-2027-1

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