Franchini A, Ottaviani E
Department of Animal Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
J Neuroendocrinol. 1999 Sep;11(9):685-92. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2826.1999.00385.x.
Changes from hatching to the involutive stage in the thymus and bursa of Fabricius of Gallus domesticus were studied. Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides and cytokines were also tested by immunocytochemical procedures. Thymic histological modifications appeared at 3 months and involved an increase in connectival argyrophilic reticular fibres, a proliferation of non-epithelial cells in the reticulum network, the presence of mucous cells and small mucous cysts, and an increase in the number of eosinophilic and myoid cells. A clear distinction between the cortex and the medulla was lost. Immunoreactive POMC-related molecules and cytokines were demonstrated in thymic cells from 4-day-old chicken, and their number increased with ageing. These molecules were expressed in a few single epithelial cells and in interdigitating cells. With ageing, the number of immunoreactive interdigitating cells also increased, and these appeared in an activated phase. Histological modifications in the bursa of Fabricius appeared at 2 months and concerned a folding of the interfollicular surface epithelium covering the bursal plicae and a reduction in lymphoid follicle-associated epithelium. Fibrous tissue gradually increased, and large mucoid cysts were evident. The expression of POMC-derived peptide-and cytokine-like molecules differed during the development and involution phases of the organ. Cells of follicle associated epithelium and dendritic reticular cells of lymphoid follicles were immunoreactive to beta-endorphin between 4 days and 2 months, while ACTH-, alpha-MSH- and cytokine-like molecules were observed in follicles after 2 months. The findings indicate a physiological role of these molecules during the growth and involution of the two organs.
研究了家鸡胸腺和法氏囊从孵化到退化阶段的变化。还通过免疫细胞化学方法检测了促肾上腺皮质激素原（POMC）衍生肽和细胞因子。胸腺组织学改变出现在3个月时，包括结缔组织嗜银网状纤维增加、网状网络中非上皮细胞增殖、黏液细胞和小黏液囊肿的出现以及嗜酸性细胞和肌样细胞数量增加。皮质和髓质之间的明显区分消失。在4日龄鸡的胸腺细胞中证实了免疫反应性POMC相关分子和细胞因子，其数量随年龄增长而增加。这些分子在少数单个上皮细胞和指状突细胞中表达。随着年龄增长，免疫反应性指状突细胞数量也增加，且这些细胞处于活化阶段。法氏囊的组织学改变出现在2个月时，涉及覆盖法氏囊皱襞的滤泡间表面上皮的折叠以及淋巴滤泡相关上皮的减少。纤维组织逐渐增加，大的黏液囊肿明显可见。POMC衍生肽和细胞因子样分子在该器官的发育和退化阶段表达不同。滤泡相关上皮细胞和淋巴滤泡的树突状网状细胞在4天至2个月之间对β-内啡肽呈免疫反应，而在2个月后在滤泡中观察到促肾上腺皮质激素、α-黑素细胞刺激素和细胞因子样分子。这些发现表明这些分子在这两个器官的生长和退化过程中具有生理作用。
