Premium
The Thymic Microenvironment of the Common Sole, Solea solea
Author(s) -
Pulsford Ann,
Fänge Ragnar,
Zapata Agustin G.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
acta zoologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.414
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1463-6395
pISSN - 0001-7272
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-6395.1991.tb01198.x
Subject(s) - biology , vacuole , chromatophore , microbiology and biotechnology , cytoplasm , connective tissue , melanin , ultrastructure , lymphoblast , melanosome , cell type , macrophage , epithelium , phagosome , giant cell , electron microscope , phagocytosis , anatomy , cell , cell culture , in vitro , biochemistry , genetics , physics , fishery , optics
The thymus of the sole Solea solea contained lymphoblasts and thymocytes within a network of pale and dark epithelial cells. The pale cells were characterized by tonofilaments and desmosomes and some embraced rodlet cells within their cytoplasmic processes. The dark epithelial cells had numerous electron‐dense inclusions and electron‐lucent vacuoles. Lymphocytes were closely associated with the plasma membrane of both types of epithelial cells and with macrophages. Breakdown of effete lymphocytes appeared to be the main function of the macrophages. Some macrophages were multinucleated. Those containing melanin granules associated with phagosomes were classified as melanomacrophages. Pigment cells including melanophores and guanophores were present along the connective tissue trabeculae and surrounding the blood vessels. A few plasma cells and mucous cells were present.