Morphological and histochemical characterization of the medullary cells in the bursal follicles of the chicken.
Using light and electron-microscopy and enzyme-histochemical methods the cells in the follicular medulla of the chicken bursa of Fabricius were characterized. The following cell types were identified: lymphocytes of both B and T cell series, lymphoblasts, plasma cells, dendritic reticulum cells and histiocytic reticulum cells--the latter being the only cells phagocytosing the tracer substance used (colloidal carbon). The medullary cells observed showed electron-microscope and histochemical characteristics typical of the germinal center cells in mammalian lymphoreticular tissues. Furthermore, a distinct bursal follicular epithelial cell was identified, and so was a medullary epithelial structure resembling Hassall's corpuscle of the thymus. These findings give further support to the idea that the avian bursa has functions of a peripheral lymphoid organ as well as containing T-derived lymphocytes.
D000818:Animals; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002645:Chickens; D004848:Epithelium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006644:Histiocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012159:Reticulum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure