Cytochemical identification of endocrine thymus of chicken in relation to aging.

Age related cytochemical changes of thymic endocrine cells were studied in 78 day old chicks at five day interval to age of day 60 employing a panel of cytochemical stains. Methenamine silver revealed cell morphology including cell processes distinctly while diamine silver revealed a stronger argentaffinity in these cells. The cells had greater affinity for diamine silver compared to methenamine silver (Argentaffin), followed by formaldehyde induced autofluorescence, argyrophilia, lead hematoxylin and HCl-toluidine.