Non-lymphoid cells produce IgA-like substance in the corticomedullary zone of the chicken thymus. IgA-like substance in non-lymphoid cells.

Anti-IgA monoclonal antibody identified two different types of cells at the corticomedullary border of the chicken thymus. While cell Type I might be a plasma cell, Type II was an epithelial cell with intracytoplasmic and intracystic reaction products. The alpha chain reaction product of the epithelial cell was not recognized by anti lambda light chain antibody suggesting that the product was not a complete immunoglobulin A. It is proposed that the product of some corticomedullary epithelial cells may contribute to the induction of T alpha cells.