Stages of the rat thymic medulla development in foetal period.

Development of thymic medulla was examined on consecutive gestational days (GD) in Wistar rats. Medullary thymic epithelial cells (TEC) were identified by immunocytochemical localisation of neuron-specific enolase (NSE). Organisation of thymic medullary architecture was determined by interaction of thymocytes with NSE-positive TEC, that led to formation of lymphoepithelial complexes (GD 19), in which the cells exhibited proliferative activity or traits of apoptosis.

Histogenesis of the rat thymic medulla during first stages of development.

We investigated first stages of thymic medulla organisation in foetuses of Wistar strain rats. between 13th and 17th days of foetal life (GD). Medullary cells were identified by immunocytochemical localisation of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) as well as by traits of ultrastructure.

Kinetics of thymic stroma development in the foetal period.

The kinetics of thymic epithelial cell development was examined in Wistar strain rats between 13th and 21st days of foetal life. The studies were based on immunocytochemical localisation of cytokeratin 16 (CK 16), Ki67 and on ultrastructural observations of thymus development. Expression of CK16 in individual groups was evaluated using the Micro Image v.

Subtypes of thymic epithelial cells defined by neuroendocrine markers.

The study attempted to define characteristics of thymic epithelial cells within rat thymus based on the expression of neuroendocrine markers. Using an immunohistochemical approach, the following markers were localised: protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.