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Home / Equine Research Bank / Am J Pathol / Alterations of the thymus and other lymphoid tissue in young...
The American journal of pathology1976; 84(1); 39-54;

Alterations of the thymus and other lymphoid tissue in young horses with combined immunodeficiency.

Abstract: Combined immunodeficiency (CID) is a significant disease in terms of prevalence in Arabian foals and is a useful animal for study of a similar condition in children. Thymuses from all CID foals examined were extremely hypoplastic. Light and electron microscopic examination of thymuses from CID foals, as well as a thymus from an aborted CID fetus, demonstrate that the basic thymic structure is intact, despite a number of dissimilar morphologic appearances. From these data, we inferred that the thymic hypoplasia was caused by a failure of committed lymphocytes from the bone marrow to populate the organ. The lack of uniform organized lymphocytes in the spleen and lymph nodes provides considerable support for the absence of lymphoid precursors or their inability to respond to differentiating influences.
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Publication Date: 1976-07-01 PubMed ID: 937516PubMed Central: PMC2032354
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates the alterations in the thymus and other lymphoid tissue in young Arabian foals afflicted with Combined Immunodeficiency (CID), a prevalent disease among this breed. The study’s focus is on the hypoplastic condition of the thymus and its structure, along with its capacity to form lymphocytes from the bone marrow.

Investigating alters in thymus

  • The researchers’ main objective was to study the structural and anatomical changes in the thymus gland in foals suffering from Combined Immunodeficiency (CID). The thymus gland in mammals is where T cells, a type of white blood cell or lymphocyte, mature. These cells play a crucial role in the immune response.
  • The study was performed on Arabian foals due to the high prevalence of CID in this breed. CID is a correlative disease in animals to a counterpart in children, making this animal model relevant to human medicine.
  • Thymuses from CID-affected foals were found to be hypoplastic, meaning they were underdeveloped or smaller than usual. This observation led to further microscopic examination of the thymus tissues.

Microscopic examination of thymuses

  • Upon conducting light and electron microscopic examination, it was discovered that the basic thymic structure remained intact. However, multiple morphological deviations were found in the thymuses of CID foals.
  • These examinations included a thymus from an aborted CID fetus as well, further solidifying their findings.
  • Through these microscopic examinations, they inferred that the small size of the thymus was due to the failure in forming lymphocytes from the bone marrow. This may suggest a problem with the signaling pathway responsible for the differentiation of lymphocytes, leading to their limited numbers.

Analysis of lymphocytes in spleen and lymph nodes

  • Further support for this hypothesis was provided by the examination of the spleen and lymph nodes in CID foals.
  • These organs also lacked a uniform and organized presence of lymphocytes, indicating a lack of lymphoid precursors or possibly the inability of these precursors to respond to differentiation signals.
  • This finding emphasizes the importance of proper functioning of the thymus in the production and maturation of immune cells, and how its impairment can lead to compromised immunity in CID foals.

Cite This Article

APA
McGuire TC, Banks KL, Davis WC. (1976). Alterations of the thymus and other lymphoid tissue in young horses with combined immunodeficiency. Am J Pathol, 84(1), 39-54.

Publication

The American journal of pathology
ISSN: 0002-9440
NlmUniqueID: 0370502
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 84
Issue: 1
Pages: 39-54

Researcher Affiliations

McGuire, T C
    Banks, K L
      Davis, W C

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Disease Models, Animal
        • Epithelial Cells
        • Epithelium / pathology
        • Horse Diseases / pathology
        • Horses
        • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / veterinary
        • Lymph Nodes / ultrastructure
        • Lymphoid Tissue / pathology
        • Spleen / pathology
        • Thymus Gland / pathology
        • Thymus Gland / ultrastructure

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        This article includes 21 references
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        Citations

        This article has been cited 3 times.
        1. Fox-Clipsham LY, Carter SD, Goodhead I, Hall N, Knottenbelt DC, May PD, Ollier WE, Swinburne JE. Identification of a mutation associated with fatal Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome in the Fell and Dales pony.. PLoS Genet 2011 Jul;7(7):e1002133.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002133pubmed: 21750681google scholar: lookup
        2. Perryman LE, McGuire TC, Banks KL. Animal model of human disease. Infantile X-linked agammaglobulinemia. Agammaglobulinemia in horses.. Am J Pathol 1983 Apr;111(1):125-7.
          pubmed: 6837721
        3. Buening GM, Perryman LE, McGuire TC. Immunoglobulins and secretory component in the external secretions of foals with combined immunodeficiency.. Infect Immun 1978 Feb;19(2):695-8.
          doi: 10.1128/iai.19.2.695-698.1978pubmed: 631895google scholar: lookup
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