Differentiation of thymic lymphoid cells during human embryogenesis

• Published in: Developmental and comparative immunology Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 225 - 230
• Main Authors: Raitsina, Saina S., Kalinina, Irina I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.1984; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cell Differentiation; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Fetus; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gestational Age; Humans; Lymphoid Tissue - embryology; Organogenesis. Fetal development; Organogenesis. Physiological fonctions; T-Lymphocytes - physiology; Thymus Gland - cytology; Thymus Gland - embryology; Human; Embryonic development; Lymphoid cell; Transmission electron microscopy; Thymus gland; Hematopoietic organ; Ultrastructure; Cell differentiation
• ISSN: 0145-305X; 1879-0089
• DOI: 10.1016/0145-305X(84)90028-4

It has been reported that a large proportion of thymic lymphoid cells has surface receptors to sheep erythrocytes from 12 week of gestation. 95-100% of foetal lymphocytes from 12-20 weeks of gestation reacted specifically with antifoetal thymocyte serum by an immunofluorescence assay. Different cellular types in the developing thymus have been studied under light and electron microscope in human embryos. But their ultrastructural studies only commenced at 10 weeks of development, by which time thymic lymphoid cells differentistion is quite well advanced. In general little is known on ultrastructural changes which occur in the thymic lymphoid cells during the earliest stages of development and timing of the first appearance of the antigens of differentiation on their surface. Present study attempts to alleviate this deficiency.