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Age-related morphological changes in the thymus of indigenous Large White pig cross during foetal and postnatal development

Year 2017, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 12 - 20, 30.04.2017

Abstract

Objectives: The thymus is found in all vertebrates, the structure of the thymus differs markedly among species. This study investigatedthe gross anatomy, morphometric and histological changes of the thymus in the indigenous Large White pig cross at various ages of foetal and postnatal periods.

Methods: The study used slaughter house specimens obtained after adequate health inspection and slaughter. A total of fifty three samples of thymus collected from foetal, prepubertal and pubertal pigs with varied weights were used for gross and histological study.

Results: The absolute thymus weight showed significant (p<0.05) increase in size with advancing foetal age, but the increment was not significant in the postnatal stage. The capsule was initially thin and indistinct at 30–45 days thymus, but increased in thickness with progression of gestation. A distinct evidence of lobulation was observed in foetuses of 46–58 days of gestation. Interlobular septa matured and increased in vascularization with age, such that they were highly vascularized at 77–90 days thymus. The boundary of cortex-medulla was partially distinguishable at 46–58 days foetuses and distinctively demarcated at 60–75 days of gestation. Various sizes of lymphocytes were apparent in the cortex at 60–75 days impacting a strong basophilic colour to the cortex. Rudiments of epithelial cells were seen as eosinophilic clumps at 30–45 day thymus. Apparently well differentiated epithelial cells with dense consistency were observed at 46–58 days thymus. Macrophages were seen at the 95–113 days and were quite distinct at the prepubertal and pubertal age. Early forms of Hassal’s corpuscles were present at 46–58 day thymus and increased in number with age.

Conclusion: The present study has demonstrated that the morphology of the thymus changed with age and the cellular components of the thymus attain morphological maturity during the late foetal period and may be involved in moderate prenatal immunological functions.

References

  • 1. Boehm T. Thymus development and function. Curr Opin Immunol 2008;20:178–84.
  • 2. Gordon J, Manley NR. Mechanisms of thymus organogenesis and morphogenesis. Development 2011;138:3865–78.
  • 3. Gordon J, Bennet AR, Blackburn CC, Manley NR. Gcm2 and Foxn1 mark early parathyroid- and thymus-specific domains in the developing third pharyngeal pouch. Mech Dev 2001;103:141–3.
  • 4. Ge Q, Zhao Y. Evolution of thymus organogenesis. Dev Comp Immunol 2013;39:85–90.
  • 5. Jordan RK. Development of sheep thymus in relation to in utero thymectomy experiments. Eur J Immunol 1976;6:693–8. 6. Bodey B, Bodey B Jr, Siegel SE, Kaiser HE. Involution of the mammalian thymus, one of the leading regulators of aging. In Vivo 1997; 11:421–40.
  • 7. Goldbach KJ. Histological and morphometric investigation of the thymus of the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). MSc Thesis, University of Florida, FL, USA; 2010.
  • 8. Swindle MM, Makin A, Herron, AJ, Clubb FJ, Frazier KS. Swine as models in biomedical research and toxicology testing. Vet Pathol 2012; 49:344–56.
  • 9. Muthiah K, Jeeferson JJ, Lalitha PS. Morphometry of thymus in sheep foetus. Indian Journal of Veterinary Anatomy 1995;11:35–9.
  • 10. Prakash A, Chandra G. Some gross observations on the prenatal thymus of buffalo (Bubalus bubalus). Indian Journal of Veterinary Anatomy 1999;11:178.
  • 11. Prasad M, Prakash A, Archana M, Farooqui M, Singh, SP. Gross biometrical observations on prenatal thymus of goat (Capra hircus). The Haryana Veterinarian 2011;50: 37–9.
  • 12. Yugesh K, Jothi SS, Ramganathan K, Jayaraman P, Chavalin V, Sujatha N. Microscopic and microscopic study of thymus of pig. IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences 2014;13:52–5.
  • 13. Gasisova AI, Atkenova AB, Ahmetzhanova NB, Murzabekova LM, Bekenova AC. Morphostructure of immune system organs in cattle of different age. Anat Histol Embryol 2017;46:132–42.
  • 14. McGeady TA, Quinn PJ, Fitzpatrick EA, Ryan MT. Veterinary embryology. Oxford (UK): Blackwell Publishing; 2006. p. 346–8.
  • 15. Dyce KM, Sack, WO, Wensing CJG. Textbook of veterinary anatomy, 3rd ed. London; Saunders; 2002. p. 258.
  • 16. Kuper F, Schuurman, HJ, Vos JG. Pathology in immunology. In: Methods in immunotoxicology. In: Burleson JD, Munson A, editors. New York (NY): Wiley-Liss; 1995. p. 397–436.
  • 17. Bancroft JD, Gamble M. Theory and practice of histological techniques. 5th ed. Churchill Livingstone: Toronto; 2002. p. 34–78.
  • 18. Venzke WG. Thymus. In: Sisson and Grossman’s the anatomy of domestic animals. Getty R, editor. Vol. 1. Philadelphia (PA): WB Saunders Company; 1975. pp. 1359.
  • 19. Pearse G. Normal structure, function and histology of the thymus. Toxicol Pathol 2006; 34:504–14.
  • 20. Baishya G, Kalita A, Sarma K, Borthakur M. Ontogeny of thymus in crossbred pig-gross anatomical studies. Indian Journal of Veterinary Anatomy 2000; 12: 210.
  • 21. Sugimura M, Suzuki Y, Atoji Y, Sugano M, Tsuchimoto N. Morphological studies on thymus of Japanese serows (Cappricornis crispus). Research Bulletin of the Faculty of Agriculture, Gifu University 1983;48:113–9.
  • 22. Sincai M, Marcu A. Perculiary aspects about development of thymus in pigs. Ciencia Rural Santa Maria 1994;24:117–9.
  • 23. Yurchinskij VJ. Age-related morphological changes in Hassal’s corpuscles of different maturity in vertebrate animals and humans. Advances in Gerontology 2016;6:117–22.
  • 24. Rezzani R, Nardo L, Favero G, Peroni M, Rodella LF. Thymus and aging: morphological, radiological, and functional overview. Age (Dordr) 2014;36:313–51.
  • 25. Reynolds JD, Morris B. The evolution of Peyer’s patches in fetal and postnatal sheep. Eur J Immunol 1983;13:627–35.
  • 26. Schuurman HJ, Kuper CF, Kendall MD. Thymic microenvironment at the light microscopic level. Microsc Res Tech 1997;38:216–26.
Year 2017, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 12 - 20, 30.04.2017

Abstract

References

  • 1. Boehm T. Thymus development and function. Curr Opin Immunol 2008;20:178–84.
  • 2. Gordon J, Manley NR. Mechanisms of thymus organogenesis and morphogenesis. Development 2011;138:3865–78.
  • 3. Gordon J, Bennet AR, Blackburn CC, Manley NR. Gcm2 and Foxn1 mark early parathyroid- and thymus-specific domains in the developing third pharyngeal pouch. Mech Dev 2001;103:141–3.
  • 4. Ge Q, Zhao Y. Evolution of thymus organogenesis. Dev Comp Immunol 2013;39:85–90.
  • 5. Jordan RK. Development of sheep thymus in relation to in utero thymectomy experiments. Eur J Immunol 1976;6:693–8. 6. Bodey B, Bodey B Jr, Siegel SE, Kaiser HE. Involution of the mammalian thymus, one of the leading regulators of aging. In Vivo 1997; 11:421–40.
  • 7. Goldbach KJ. Histological and morphometric investigation of the thymus of the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). MSc Thesis, University of Florida, FL, USA; 2010.
  • 8. Swindle MM, Makin A, Herron, AJ, Clubb FJ, Frazier KS. Swine as models in biomedical research and toxicology testing. Vet Pathol 2012; 49:344–56.
  • 9. Muthiah K, Jeeferson JJ, Lalitha PS. Morphometry of thymus in sheep foetus. Indian Journal of Veterinary Anatomy 1995;11:35–9.
  • 10. Prakash A, Chandra G. Some gross observations on the prenatal thymus of buffalo (Bubalus bubalus). Indian Journal of Veterinary Anatomy 1999;11:178.
  • 11. Prasad M, Prakash A, Archana M, Farooqui M, Singh, SP. Gross biometrical observations on prenatal thymus of goat (Capra hircus). The Haryana Veterinarian 2011;50: 37–9.
  • 12. Yugesh K, Jothi SS, Ramganathan K, Jayaraman P, Chavalin V, Sujatha N. Microscopic and microscopic study of thymus of pig. IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences 2014;13:52–5.
  • 13. Gasisova AI, Atkenova AB, Ahmetzhanova NB, Murzabekova LM, Bekenova AC. Morphostructure of immune system organs in cattle of different age. Anat Histol Embryol 2017;46:132–42.
  • 14. McGeady TA, Quinn PJ, Fitzpatrick EA, Ryan MT. Veterinary embryology. Oxford (UK): Blackwell Publishing; 2006. p. 346–8.
  • 15. Dyce KM, Sack, WO, Wensing CJG. Textbook of veterinary anatomy, 3rd ed. London; Saunders; 2002. p. 258.
  • 16. Kuper F, Schuurman, HJ, Vos JG. Pathology in immunology. In: Methods in immunotoxicology. In: Burleson JD, Munson A, editors. New York (NY): Wiley-Liss; 1995. p. 397–436.
  • 17. Bancroft JD, Gamble M. Theory and practice of histological techniques. 5th ed. Churchill Livingstone: Toronto; 2002. p. 34–78.
  • 18. Venzke WG. Thymus. In: Sisson and Grossman’s the anatomy of domestic animals. Getty R, editor. Vol. 1. Philadelphia (PA): WB Saunders Company; 1975. pp. 1359.
  • 19. Pearse G. Normal structure, function and histology of the thymus. Toxicol Pathol 2006; 34:504–14.
  • 20. Baishya G, Kalita A, Sarma K, Borthakur M. Ontogeny of thymus in crossbred pig-gross anatomical studies. Indian Journal of Veterinary Anatomy 2000; 12: 210.
  • 21. Sugimura M, Suzuki Y, Atoji Y, Sugano M, Tsuchimoto N. Morphological studies on thymus of Japanese serows (Cappricornis crispus). Research Bulletin of the Faculty of Agriculture, Gifu University 1983;48:113–9.
  • 22. Sincai M, Marcu A. Perculiary aspects about development of thymus in pigs. Ciencia Rural Santa Maria 1994;24:117–9.
  • 23. Yurchinskij VJ. Age-related morphological changes in Hassal’s corpuscles of different maturity in vertebrate animals and humans. Advances in Gerontology 2016;6:117–22.
  • 24. Rezzani R, Nardo L, Favero G, Peroni M, Rodella LF. Thymus and aging: morphological, radiological, and functional overview. Age (Dordr) 2014;36:313–51.
  • 25. Reynolds JD, Morris B. The evolution of Peyer’s patches in fetal and postnatal sheep. Eur J Immunol 1983;13:627–35.
  • 26. Schuurman HJ, Kuper CF, Kendall MD. Thymic microenvironment at the light microscopic level. Microsc Res Tech 1997;38:216–26.
There are 25 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Health Care Administration
Journal Section Original Articles
Authors

Casmir Onwuaso Igbokwe This is me

Kelechi Ezenwaka This is me

Publication Date April 30, 2017
Published in Issue Year 2017 Volume: 11 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Igbokwe, C. O., & Ezenwaka, K. (2017). Age-related morphological changes in the thymus of indigenous Large White pig cross during foetal and postnatal development. Anatomy, 11(1), 12-20.
AMA Igbokwe CO, Ezenwaka K. Age-related morphological changes in the thymus of indigenous Large White pig cross during foetal and postnatal development. Anatomy. April 2017;11(1):12-20.
Chicago Igbokwe, Casmir Onwuaso, and Kelechi Ezenwaka. “Age-Related Morphological Changes in the Thymus of Indigenous Large White Pig Cross During Foetal and Postnatal Development”. Anatomy 11, no. 1 (April 2017): 12-20.
EndNote Igbokwe CO, Ezenwaka K (April 1, 2017) Age-related morphological changes in the thymus of indigenous Large White pig cross during foetal and postnatal development. Anatomy 11 1 12–20.
IEEE C. O. Igbokwe and K. Ezenwaka, “Age-related morphological changes in the thymus of indigenous Large White pig cross during foetal and postnatal development”, Anatomy, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 12–20, 2017.
ISNAD Igbokwe, Casmir Onwuaso - Ezenwaka, Kelechi. “Age-Related Morphological Changes in the Thymus of Indigenous Large White Pig Cross During Foetal and Postnatal Development”. Anatomy 11/1 (April 2017), 12-20.
JAMA Igbokwe CO, Ezenwaka K. Age-related morphological changes in the thymus of indigenous Large White pig cross during foetal and postnatal development. Anatomy. 2017;11:12–20.
MLA Igbokwe, Casmir Onwuaso and Kelechi Ezenwaka. “Age-Related Morphological Changes in the Thymus of Indigenous Large White Pig Cross During Foetal and Postnatal Development”. Anatomy, vol. 11, no. 1, 2017, pp. 12-20.
Vancouver Igbokwe CO, Ezenwaka K. Age-related morphological changes in the thymus of indigenous Large White pig cross during foetal and postnatal development. Anatomy. 2017;11(1):12-20.

Anatomy is the official journal of Turkish Society of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy (TSACA).