N. Romano et al., Histological and cytological studies on the developing thymus of sharpsnout seabream, Diplodus puntazzo, J ANAT, 194, 1999, pp. 39-50
The structure of the developing thymus of the marine teleost, Diplodus punt
azzo, was studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. The first
anlage of the thymus developed by d 20 postfertilisation (p.f.) as a group
of undifferentiated cells dorsal to the epithelium of the branchial chamber
. The organ increased significantly in size around d 51-66 p.f. and differe
ntiation of cortex and medulla occurred concomitantly. On the basis of thei
r localisation, 4 main types of epithelial cell were distinguished: (1) lim
iting, adjacent to the connective capsule; (2) medullary and cortical retic
ular cells; (3) nurse cells, located in the corticomedullary boundary; (4)
Hassall-like corpuscles. The majority of medium to large blast-like lymphoi
d cells were localised in the medulla, while small lymphocytes were housed
in the cortical region. These morphological features were maintained at lat
er stages. However, in juveniles in the medulla we observed reticular epith
elial cells with cysts and rare Hassall-like corpuscles. The study was desi
gned to obtain more information concerning the histology of the developing
thymus of sharpsnout seabream and give a concise description of the differe
ntiation of epithelial cells and lymphoid cells in the thymic parenchyma.