Immunohistochemical study of cyclosporin-A on rat thymus after various treatment times.
The effects of the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin A (CsA) after 4, 8, 15, and 21 days of treatment were investigated in the thymus of 12 week-old rats by an immunochemical method using the TRPM1 and TRPM2 monoclonal antibodies. Major changes were not observed after 4, 8 and 15 days' treatment. But thymus histology completely changed after 21 days: Interdigitating (TRPM1-positive) cells completely disappeared and only a small number of (TRPM1-positive) macrophages were observed in the thymus cortex. TRPM2-positive cells also decreased, most markedly in the outer cortex and cortex. These findings indicate that inhibition of T-lymphocyte maturation is linked to disappearance of interdigitating cells which produce cytokines with proliferative and differentiation properties.
Rezzani
R
R
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Brescia.
Rodella
L
L
Corsetti
G
G
Ventura
R G
RG
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016572:Cyclosporine