Histogenesis of Thymus in Prenatal Surti Goats

Abstract

The present study was conducted on the thymus of 42 healthy Surti goat foetuses at different stages of their development ranging from 38 days (2.6 cm CR length) to 140 days (38.8 cm CR length). The thymus at the age of 38 days showed epithelial reticular cells and lymphoblasts. The lobulation of thymus was observed between 44 to 45 days of age. The beginning of vascularization was noticed at the age of 44 days. The differentiation of thymic lobules into cortex and medulla began at the age of 49 days and distinct cortex and medulla was observed at 51 days in some lobules. The blood-thymus barrier was observed between 64 to 69 days in cortex region. The Surti goat foetuses at 104 days (27.2 cm CR length) of gestation showed large sized lobules with distinct cortex and medulla in most of the lobules on the section surface. At the age from 120 to 135 days, proliferating lymphocytes were observed in cortex and numerous epithelial reticular cells were noticed around the thymic corpuscles in medulla. The well developed thymic parenchyma and stroma was observed at the age of 140 days.