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Lymphoid tissue in the snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina
Author(s) -
Borysenko M.,
Cooper E. L.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1051380408
Subject(s) - chelydra , biology , turtle (robot) , lymphatic system , vertebrate , ectotherm , germinal center , spleen , lymph , anatomy , pathology , zoology , immunology , ecology , b cell , antibody , medicine , biochemistry , gene
This report presents light microscopic descriptions of lymphoid organs and aggregates in the snapping turtle Chelydra serpentina . The thymus and spleen were found to be similar to those of other ectothermic vertebrates. Certain gut associated lymphoid aggregates suggest the presence of reptilian equivalents of tonsils, Peyer's patches and the avian bursa of Fabricius. Lymphoid aggregates located in the axillary and inguinal regions were apparent for the first time in an ectothermic vertebrate. These are of particular interest since they may represent ancestors of true lymph nodes in analogous locations in mammals. It is concluded that the snapping turtle is not deficient in lymphoid tissue, although there is a conspicuous absence of typical germinal centers, characteristic of mammalian organs.