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Aging of the vertebrate immune system
Author(s) -
Torroba Marta,
Zapata Agustín G.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.10409
Subject(s) - vertebrate , immune system , biology , evolutionary biology , immunology , zoology , neuroscience , computational biology , genetics , gene
We have summarized current knowledge on the aging of the immune system in three vertebrate groups: fish, amphibians and birds. Available data are few due to difficulties in studying ageing in natural populations and in accurately determining age. In all vertebrates, the most obvious evidence of the senescence of lymphoid tissue is the involution of thymus, which courses with decreased numbers of thymocytes, and loss of the histological organization of gland. On the other hand, there is little information on aged secondary lymphoid organs. Possible influence of the endocrine system in the changes observed in aged lymphoid organs is also discussed. Microsc. Res. Tech. 62:477–481, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.