Atrophy of the thymus in rats rendered diabetic by streptozotocin.
The thymus atrophied rapidly in rats rendered diabetic by a single injection of streptozotocin. The weight of the gland was reduced to one-fifth of its original weight within three weeks. Histologically there was a great loss of cortical thymocytes and a marked increase in mast cells lying in the thickened fibrous tissue. These findings may have a bearing on the state of immune deficiency observed in animals with diabetes induced by streptozotocin.
D000818:Animals; D001284:Atrophy; D001835:Body Weight; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors