A dioestrous increase in thymocyte proliferation during the oestrous cycle.
Coitus, which precedes internal fertilisation, is a unique physiological event which allows motile allogeneic spermatozoa to enter the female host and invade her tissues. The cyclic cellular proliferation observed in the thymus of the female rat may be an important preparation of her immune system for this event.
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division; D004031:Diestrus / Q000276:immunology; D004971:Estrus / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology