Fonfría J, Barrutia M G, Villena A, Zapata A
Cell Tissue Res. 1982;225(3):687-91. doi: 10.1007/BF00214813.
Interdigitating cells (IDC) in the thymus of the spotless starling, Sturnus unicolor, were examined by electron microscopy. They occur principally in the thymic medulla and corticomedullary border. They possess an irregular nucleus and a perinuclear area of cytoplasm, containing most of the membranous organelles, surrounded by a peripheral electron-lucent zone. Clusters of smooth Golgi vesicles and complicated labyrinthine membrane-membrane contacts are the most characteristic cytological features. Birbeck granules are absent. Lymphocytes, plasma cells and even myoid cells can be found embedded in the cytoplasm. Immature elements, intermediate between epithelial-reticular cells and interdigitating cells, are tentatively identified as prointerdigitating cells. The functional significance of IDCs, and their phylogenetic significance in the vertebrate immune system, is discussed.
利用电子显微镜对纯色椋鸟（Sturnus unicolor）胸腺中的指状交叉细胞（IDC）进行了检查。它们主要出现在胸腺髓质和皮质髓质交界处。它们具有不规则的细胞核和核周细胞质区域，其中包含大部分膜性细胞器，周围有一个外周电子透明区。平滑的高尔基体小泡簇和复杂的迷宫状膜 - 膜接触是最具特征性的细胞学特征。不存在伯贝克颗粒。可以发现淋巴细胞、浆细胞甚至肌样细胞嵌入细胞质中。初步将上皮网状细胞和指状交叉细胞之间的不成熟成分鉴定为前指状交叉细胞。文中讨论了指状交叉细胞的功能意义及其在脊椎动物免疫系统中的系统发育意义。
