Development of endocrine and lymphocytopoietic functions of the thymus in human embryogenesis.
The endocrine function of the thymus develops earlier than lymphocytopoietic. Thymalin is produced by epithelial cells in the thymus primordium. It is released into the blood and regulates differentiation of T lymphocytes in the liver, the initial hemopoietic organ. The hormonal and lymphopoietic functions of human thymus are united on weeks 7.5-8 of embryonic life.
Khlystova
Z S
ZS
Laboratory of Embryonal Histogenesis, Institute of Human Morphology, Moscow.
Kalinina
I I
II
Shmeleva
S P
SP
Ryabchikov
O P
OP
D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000196:embryology* / Q000276:immunology*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000378:metabolism
D013951:Thymus Hormones; C032805:thymalin