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Epithelial‐cell architecture during involution of the human thymus
Author(s) -
Henry L.,
Anderson G.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711520303
Subject(s) - involution (esoterism) , parenchyma , immunoperoxidase , biology , medulla , pathology , epithelium , cytokeratin , thymic involution , microbiology and biotechnology , immunohistochemistry , anatomy , monoclonal antibody , t cell , immunology , antibody , neuroscience , immune system , medicine , consciousness
One hundred thymus glands were assessed histologically as to their degree of involution. Epithelial cells were demonstrated by an immunoperoxidase method using a monoclonal antibody against cytokeratin. The distribution of these cells was studied in the medulla, the cortico‐medullary junction, the cortical parenchyma and the subcapsular cortex. As involution proceeds, the loss of cells from the thymus is almost totally confined to the lymphoid‐cell elements. The architecture of the epithelial‐cell network remains largely intact although there is extensive collapse of the structure due to the loss of the intervening lymphocytes. Even when involution is apparently complete; sheets of epithelial cells can be demonstrated in the thymic remnant.