THE INFLUENCE OF EXPERIMENTAL DIABETES ON THE EPITHELIAL CELLS IN RAT THYMIC CORTEX / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the morphologic changes of the epithelial cells in the thymic cortex in diabetes rats, and its possible mechanism of thymocyte apoptosis and thymus involution. Methods The ultrastructure changes of the epithelial cells in the thymic cortex in diabetes rats were observed under electron microscope. Results The type 2 epithelial cells had four kinds of the changes on ultrastructure1 the endocrine disorder like changes with a large number of the degenerative cystic vacuoles;2 the degenerative like changes with lots of the abnormal secretory vacuoles and myelin like bodies and bulky tonofilament bundles; 3 the phagocyte like changes with a great number of the dense lysosome like granulae and the phagocytosed apoptotic cells and bodies; 4 the apoptosis like changes with the early morphologic changes of apoptosis. The type 3 epithelial cells had two kinds of the changes on ultrastructure1 degenerative like changes with groups of dense granulae which secrete peptide hormones;2 the proliferative like changes with numerous collage fibrils in the vicivity of their perikarya. In addition, a lot of the apoptotic thymocytes and the reduction of thymocyte number were found in thymic cortex.Conclusion The varied ultrastructure changes of the epithelial cells in rat thymic cortex could be induced by diabetes, which might be the one of major mechanisms on influencing the thymocyte development and causing the thymocyte apoptosis and thymus involution.\;[