Journal of Camel Practice and Research

Endocrine cells in the thymus of the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) were studied using immunohistochemical methods. Serotonin, insulin, gastrin, glucagon, calcitonin, substance P, Pancreatic polypeptide (PPP)-, CCK, vasoactive intestinal peptide, galanin and somatostatin-cells were detected in the camel thymus by Avidin-Biotin-Complex technique. These immunoreactive cells, except for calcitonin cells, restrictively observed in the medulla. These endocrine cells were shown to be oval, elongated or triangle in shape. Calcitonin-immunoreactive cells were observed both in the cortex and medulla. Hassall's corpuscles were immunoreactive for all neuropeptides except for gastrin, calcitonin, CCK and VIP. Thymocytes were reactive only for gastrin. The obtained data indicate the presence of different neuropeptides in the camel thymus and suggest a role for neuroendocrine hormone-mediated mechanisms in the regulation of the thymichomopoesis in the camel.