Summary
The morphologic features of the fetal and neonatal thymus were investigated by light and electron microscopy to determine developmental changes. Primitive epithelial cells differentiate into reticular epithelial cells, medullary epithelial cells, elongated epithelial cells, Hassall's corpuscles and cysts. Thymocytes first appear at 50 days fetal age and the number of thymocytes is amplified from 75–150 days fetal age. Minor differences between the fetal thymus of the monkey and that of other species were observed. Possible functions for the various cellular components of the fetal monkey thymus are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ackerman, G. A., Knouff, R. A.: Lymphocyte formation in the thymus of the embryonic chick. Anat. Rec. 149, 191–216 (1964).
—: The epithelial origin of the lymphocytes in the thymus of the embryonic hamster. Anat. Rec. 152, 35–54 (1965).
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology: Manual of histologic and special staining technics, 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill 1960.
Auerbach, R.: Morphogenetic interactions in the development of the mouse thymus gland. Develop. Biol. 2, 271–284 (1960).
Auerbach, R.: On the function of the embryonic thymus. In: The thymus, ed. by V. Defendi and D. Metcalf, p. 1–8. Philadelphia: Wistar Institute Press 1964.
Bimes C., Izard, J., Guilhem, A.: L'ultrastructure des cellules thymique a corps de FoaKurloff. C. R, Soc. Biol. (Paris) 11, 2089–2095 (1963).
Birbeck, M. S. C., Mercer, E. H.: The role of cell membranes in morphogenesis. In: Electron Microscope. Proc. Stockholm Conf. Electron Microscopy (ed. by F. S. Sjöstrand and J. Rhodin) p. 156–158. New York: Academic Press. Inc., 1956.
Caulfield, J. B.: Effects of varying the vehicle for OsO4 in tissue fixation. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 3, 827–830 (1957).
Clark, S. L., Jr.: The thymus in mice of strain 129/J, studied with the electron microscope. Amer. J. Anat. 112, 1–33 (1963).
—: Electron microscopy of the thymus in mice of strain 129/J. In: The thymus in immunobiology, ed. by R. A. Good and A. E. Gabrielsen, p. 85–94. New York: Hoeber-Harper 1964a.
—: The penetration of proteins and colloidal materials into the thymus from the blood stream. In: The thymus, ed. by V. Defendi and D. Metcalf, p. 9–32. Philadelphia: Wistar Institute Press 1964b.
—: Cytological evidences of secretion in the thymus. In: Ciba Foundation Symposium on the Thymus. Experimental and Clinical Studies, ed. by G. E. W. Wolstenholme and R. Porter. p. 8–38. Boston: Little, Brown 1966.
Goldschneider, I., McGregor, D. D.: Migration oflymphocytes and thymocytes in the rat. II. Circulation of Iymphocytes and thymocytes from blood to lymph. Lab. Invest. 18, 397–406 (1968).
Haelst, U.van: Light and electron microscopic study of the normal and pathological thymus of the rat. I. The normal thymus. Z. Zellforsch. 77, 534–553 (1967).
Henry, K.: Mucin secretion and striated muscle in the human thymus. Lancet 1966I 183–185.
Holtfreter, J.: Significance of the cell membrane in embryological processes. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 49, 709–760 (1948).
Hoshino, T., Takeda, M., Abe, K., Ito, T.: Early development of thymic lymphocytes in mice, studied by light and electron microscopy. Anat. Rec. 164, 47–66 (1969).
Ito, T., Hoshino, T.: Fine structure of the epithelial reticular cells of the medulla of the thymus in the golden hamster. Z. Zellforsch. 69, 311–318 (1966).
Izard, J., Bimes, C., Guilhem, A.: Ultrastructure d'une inclusion intracytoplasmique: le corps de Foa-Kurloff du thymus de cobaye. Relation de cette inclusion avec les lysosomes. J. Microscopie 3, 69–84 (1964).
Kohnen, P., Weiss, L.: An electron microscopic study of the thymic corpuscles in the guinea pig and the mouse. Anat. Rec. 148, 29–58 (1964).
Kostowiecki, M.: Primary human lymphocytes as derivates of the thymic epithelial cords. Z. mikr.-anat. Forsch. 73, 404–432 (1965).
Mandel, T.: Ultrastructure of epithelial cells in the medulla of the guinea-pig thymus. Aust. J. exp. Biol. med. Sci. 46, 755–767 (1968a).
—: The development and structure of Hassall's corpuscles in the guinea pig. Z. Zellforsch. 89, 180–192 (1968b).
Metcalf, D.: The thymic lymphocytosis stimulating factor and its relation to lymphatic leukemia. Canad. Cancer Conf. 3, 351–366 (1959).
Mollenhauer, H. H.: Plastic embedding mixtures for use in electron microscopy. J. Stain Technol. 39, 111–114 (1964).
Moore, M. A. S., Owen, J. J. T.: Experimental studies on the development of the thymus. J. exp. Med. 126, 715–726 (1967).
Murray, R. G., Murray, A. S., Pizzo, A.: The fine structure of the thymocytes of young rats. Anat. Rec. 151, 17–40 (1965).
Peterson, R. D. A., Cooper, M. D., Good, R. A.: The pathogenesis of immunological deficiency diseases. Amer. J. Med. 38, 579–604 (1965).
Pinkel, D.: Ultrastructure of the human fetal thymus. Amer. J. Dis. Child. 115, 222–238 (1968).
Sanel, F. T.: Ultrastructure of differentiating cells during thymus histogenesis. Z. Zellforsch. 83, 8–29 (1967).
Smith, C.: Studies on the thymus of the mammal. XIV. Histology and histochemistry of embryonic and early postnatal thymuses of C57Bl/6 and AKR strain mice. Amer. J. Anat. 116, 611–630 (1965).
Trump, B. F., Smuckler, E. A., Benditt, E. P.: A method for staining epoxy sections for light microscopy. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 5, 343–348 (1961).
Van de Velde, R. L., Friedman, N. B.: The thymic “myoidzellen” and myasthenia gravis. J. Amer. med. Ass. 198, 287–288 (1966).
Weakley, B. S., Patt, D. I., Shepro, D.: Ultrastructure of the fetal thymus in the golden hamster. J. Morph. 115, 319–354 (1964).
Weiss, L.: Electron microscopic observations on the vascular barrier in the cortex of the thymus of the mouse. Anat. Rec. 145, 413–437 (1963).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported in part by grants 5-F3-CA-28, 793-02 and FR-0167 from the National Institutes of Health.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chapman, W.L., Allen, J.R. The fine structure of the thymus of the fetal and neonatal monkey (Macaca mulatta). Z. Zellforsch. 114, 220–233 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334002
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334002