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Identification of thymostimulin secreting cells in calf thymus by immunoperoxidase method

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Summary

An anti-thymostimulin (TS) serum was tested on calf thymus to study the localization of the hormonal factor. The immunoperoxidase method was applied to tissue fixed in Bouin's fluid and embedded in paraffin, or to tissue fixed in paraformaldehyde and embedded in Epon for semi-thin sections. Immuno-reactivity was shown, with DAB-Fluka, in reticulo-epithelial cells in the medulla, and between the cortex and the medulla, while with DAB-Sigma reactivity was found in the cortex as well. The external cells of Hassall's corpuscles were also reactive. Myoid cells were not reactive. In semi-thin sections a weak reactivity was noted at the periphery of a few lymphocytes. Comparison with the localization of other thymic factors, and the possibility of a functional cycle of the epithelial cells synthesizing one or more factors are discussed.

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Author notes

  1. A. Amantea

    Present address: Centro studi per le porfirinopatie, Istituto Dermatologico, S. Gallicano, Roma, Italia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ha Cattedra di Fisioligia umana, Facoltá di Medicina e Chirurgia, Universitá degli Studi “La Sapienza” di Roma, Ciftá universitaria, I-00185, Roma, Italia

    M. Aita, A. B. Minella & A. Amantea

  2. Istituto di Anatomia umana normale, Facolt'a di Medicina del Sacro Cuore, Universitá Cattolica di Roma, Italia

    D. Cocchia

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  1. M. Aita
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  2. D. Cocchia
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  3. A. B. Minella
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  4. A. Amantea
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Aita, M., Cocchia, D., Minella, A.B. et al. Identification of thymostimulin secreting cells in calf thymus by immunoperoxidase method. Histochemistry 80, 207–211 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00495767

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00495767

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