title: Thymectomy and multiple sclerosis: ultrastructural study of an experimental model.
abstract: Transmission electron microscopy was performed on specimens of the thymus of rats induced for acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). The ultrastructural alterations of the thymus were progressive and correlated with EAE development. The thymic disorganization was due to a progressive degeneration of both epithelial cells and thymocytes. These data suggest a direct involvement of the epithelial thymic cells and thymocytes in EAE pathogenesis and may suggest the intriguing therapeutic concept of thymectomy in the management of multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biancari
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cavallotti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malinovsky
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Di Matteo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Modesti
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Confaloni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvati
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dibra
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Falvo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spyrou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scarpa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Modica
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Antoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000601:surgery*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013934:Thymectomy; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000648:ultrastructure*