Ultrastructural localisation of NADPH-diaphorase in the chick thymic medulla.

Nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase positive cells in the chick thymus were studied at the electron-microscopic level. The formazan, a marker for the enzyme nitric oxide synthase, labelled cystic, undifferentiated, endocrine-like and myoid cells in the medulla. Some lymphoid and reticulo-epithelial cells were also lightly labelled. The reaction product was predominantly bound to the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum in all the cells labelled and also to the nuclear envelope and outer membrane of mitochondria. The Golgi apparatus and the plasma membrane were free of the reaction product.