Open AccessThe effects of intracerebroventricularly applied ghrelin on thymocytes and thymic architecture in rats of different ages
Author(s) -
Jovana Todorović,
Zorica J. Terzić Šupić,
Sanja Mazić,
Jelena Lazić,
Dejan Žikić,
Dejan Nešić
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
archives of biological sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.217
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1821-4339
pISSN - 0354-4664
DOI - 10.2298/abs200416020t
Subject(s) - ghrelin , medicine , endocrinology , atrophy , saline , biology , hormone
Ghrelin positively influences the total number of thymocytes and size of the thymus in 14-, 20- and 24-month-old rats. We examined the effect of centrally-applied ghrelin on thymus weight and structure in Wistar rats of different ages. The study included 30 male Wistar rats of three age groups: peripubertal (5-week-old rats), young (2 months) and adult (6 months). The animals of each age group were divided into control and experimental groups that were administered intracerebroventricularly (ICV) 1 ?g ghrelin/5 ?L saline daily for five consecutive days. Following treatment, the thymuses were isolated, weighed and processed for stereological analysis by the point-counting method. The average weights of the thymuses were significantly higher in the ghrelin groups with respect to control rats (5 weeks: 444.90?18.03 vs 365.00?18.63; 2 months: 354.30?13.77 vs 257.00?9.60; 6 months: 365.00?15.90 vs 225.00?7.03, p<0.01). The absolute volume of lymphoid tissue was significantly higher in the ghrelin groups (5 weeks: 392.85?16.94 vs 294.48?33.37; 2 months: 309.30?12.10 vs 216.62?10.72; 6 months: 222.70?11.41 vs. 114.33?16.48, p<0.01). Ghrelin treatment restored thymic structure by increasing medullary cellularity, improving thymic medullary architecture and providing a clearer delineation between the cortex and medulla. This study shows the positive effects of centrally applied ghrelin on suppression of thymus atrophy, its weight and architecture.