POJA-L917. Thymus cortex (rat, young adult)
2.1 POJA-L917
Title: Thymus cortex (rat, young adult)
Description: Electron microscopy.
Within the thymic cortex a type II epithelioreticular cell or so-called thymic nurse cell (TNC) shows a characteristic electron-light nucleus and nucleolus (1). The branches are squeezed between the thymocytes (2). In the cytoplasm a variety of empty as well as granules-containing vacuoles (*) are present, probably containing thymulin.
Background: Usually four morphological types of cortical thymic epithelial cell types are described (cTECs): EC1 subcapsular and perivascular; pale EC2 with a high MHC-II expression; Intermediate EC3 and dark EC4. Epithelioreticular cells produce thymosin, thymulin and other humoral factors, they also express MHC I and MHC II molecules for thymocyte education. The developing thymocytes and epithelioreticular cells influence each other as T cells during differentiation control the microenvironment of the epithelioreticular cells (so-called crosstalk).
Keywords/Mesh: lymphatic tissue, thymus, epithelioreticular cell II, histology, electron microscopy, POJA collection
Title: Thymus cortex (rat, young adult)
Description: Electron microscopy.
Within the thymic cortex a type II epithelioreticular cell or so-called thymic nurse cell (TNC) shows a characteristic electron-light nucleus and nucleolus (1). The branches are squeezed between the thymocytes (2). In the cytoplasm a variety of empty as well as granules-containing vacuoles (*) are present, probably containing thymulin.
Background: Usually four morphological types of cortical thymic epithelial cell types are described (cTECs): EC1 subcapsular and perivascular; pale EC2 with a high MHC-II expression; Intermediate EC3 and dark EC4. Epithelioreticular cells produce thymosin, thymulin and other humoral factors, they also express MHC I and MHC II molecules for thymocyte education. The developing thymocytes and epithelioreticular cells influence each other as T cells during differentiation control the microenvironment of the epithelioreticular cells (so-called crosstalk).
Keywords/Mesh: lymphatic tissue, thymus, epithelioreticular cell II, histology, electron microscopy, POJA collection