A novel aspect of the structure of the avian thymic medulla.

We provide evidence for the compartmentalization of the avian thymic medulla and identify the avian thymic dendritic cell. The thymic anlage develops from an epithelial cord of the branchial endoderm. Branches of the cord are separated by primary septae of neural crest origin.

Retrospection to discovery of bursal function and recognition of avian dendritic cells; past and present.

In 1954 the discovery of bursal function was one of the major contributions to the formation of the T and B cell concept of immunology. In 1978 the avian dendritic cells; bursal secretory dendritic cell (BSDC) and follicular dendritic cell (FDC) in the cecal tonsil were recognized. In 1982 the interdigitating dendritic cell was described in the periarteriolar lymphatic sheath (PALS) of the spleen.