Rat thymus macrophages: an immunohistochemical study on fetal, neonatal and adult thymus.
The pre- and postnatal development of the macrophage population of rat thymus is investigated applying enzyme-histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques, both on tissue sections and cell suspensions. A set of three monoclonal antibodies (ED1, ED2 and ED3), each of which recognizes cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage in the rat, enabled us to distinguish between macrophages in the various compartments of the thymus. The medulla is characterized by ED1-positive dendritic cells, the corticomedullary region comprises numerous monocyte-like ED1-positive macrophages and the cortex contains a particular subpopulation of branched ED2-positive macrophages. Both the medullary dendritic cells and the cortical branched cells show Ia-membrane staining. ED3-positive cells are only occasionally present. During fetal life ED1-positive monocyte-like macrophages and dendritic cells are present. Just after birth ED2-positive cortical macrophages start to develop. Their number increases strongly during the first week after birth. The role of the various subpopulations of thymic macrophages is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D007120:Immunochemistry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal