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Similarities between Hassall's corpuscles of the human thymus and the epidermis

An investigation by electron microscopy and histochemistry

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Summary

Substrate-histochemical, enzyme-hystochemical and ultrastructural investigations were performed on thymic tissue from children, obtained in heart operations. β-Amylaseresistant, PAS-positive and Hale-positive substrates presumably neutral and acid mucosubstances, can be demonstrated in the central concentric lamellae of Hassall's corpuscles (HC). These lamellae also give positive reactions for sulphydryl groups and disulphide groups. Some flattened cell elements gave strong reactions for phospholipids, and small sudanophilic droplets, presumably neutral fats, are scattered throughout the HC. All investigated hydrolases and dehydrogenases either give no or only very weak reactions in the central part of progressive HC, but react strongly positive in their peripheral hypertrophic epithelial cells. In the central part of regressive HC, positive reactions for acid phosphatase and β-D-glucuronidase were recognized. These lysosomal enzymes may indicate degenerative processes.

By electron microscopy progressive HC show central concentric lamellae with an amorphous matrix tightly filled with tonofilaments. They are surrounded by a thickened plasma membrane (200 Å), and do not contain nuclei. These central lamellae resemble the horny cells of the epidermis. The peripheral hypertrophic epithelial cells have pale nuclei with one or two nucleoli. Their cytoplasm contains numerous tonofibrils. These cells resemble stratum spinosum cells of the epidermis. In regressive HC the central concentric lamellae loose their intercellular contacts. The widened intercellular spaces are filled with cellular debris, and are invaded by macrophages.

Similarities between the ultrastructure and the patterns of the histochemically investigated substrates and enzymes in human HC and epidermis are discussed.

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  1. Anatomisches Institut der Universität Kiel, Germany

    Brita von Gaudecker & Elke-Maria Schmale

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  1. Brita von Gaudecker
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  2. Elke-Maria Schmale
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This investigation was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

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von Gaudecker, B., Schmale, EM. Similarities between Hassall's corpuscles of the human thymus and the epidermis. Cell Tissue Res. 151, 347–368 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00224546

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