Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari-396 450, Gujarat
*E-mail address: chaurasia@nau.in
Online published on 18 September, 2018.
A study was conducted to elucidate the histomorphological changes in thymus of 18 postnatal Surti goats from birth to 48 months of age. The thymus showed well-developed stroma and apparent cortex and medulla at birth. Connective tissue stroma was made predominantly of collagen fibres. Maximum number of reticular fibres was observed in connective tissue stroma and medulla of thymus up to the age of 3 months. Involution began at the age of 3 months in some lobules of thymus. Thinning of cortex was observed between 4 and 6 months of age. Groups of adipose cells were noticed in capsule and interlobular septa at the age of 8 months. The thymus showed complete loss of demarcation between cortex and medulla at the age of 9 months. By 12 months and above thymic tissue gradually was replaced by adipose tissue; however, remnant of thymic tissue embedded within adipose tissue was still observed even at 48 months. Understanding the normal histological architecture of thymus during postnatal development provides a keystone to assess immune system function in Surti goats.
Adipose tissue, Collagen fibres, Hassall's corpuscles, Involution, Thymus
