Gross studies on thymus of pati duck
The thymus, a primary lymphoid organ of Pati duck of Assam was arranged in two long chains on either side of the neck embedded in the sub dermal connective tissue as chains of lobes connected to each other by connective tissue (Fig 1). The lobes of the thymus were located parallel to the internal jugular vein and vagus nerve which extended from the mid cervical region to the thoracic inlet (Fig 2). The total number of lobes ranged from 3 to 6 on both sides of the neck in all the age groups. The caudal most lobes were found to be largest in all the age groups and it was closely associated with the thyroid gland on either side of the neck.
The thymus, a primary lymphoid organ of Pati duck of Assam was arranged in two long chains on either side of the neck embedded in the sub dermal connective tissue as chains of lobes connected to each other by connective tissue. The lobes of the thymus were located parallel to the internal jugular vein and vagus nerve which extended from the mid cervical region to the thoracic inlet. This was not in accordance with
Koch (1973) who reported that thymic lobes extended from the anterior cervical region to the anterior thoracic region.
Kendall and Ward (1974) reported that the thymus gland of Q.
quelea consisted of many lobes, well differentiated from each other in two long chains on each side of the neck. The total number of lobes ranged from 3 to 6 on both sides of the neck in all the age groups. In adults, there were 3-8 lobes of varying size and shape extending along each jugular vein as far as the thyroid gland.
White (1951) reported that there were five pairs of thymic bodies in young chicken, on either side of the neck superficial to the jugular vein and vagus nerve.The caudal most lobes were found to be largest in all the age groups and it was closely associated with the thyroid gland on either side of the neck.
King and McLelland (1975) observed that the thymus of birds consists of 3-8 pale, pink, flattened, irregularly shaped lobes each about 1cm long in domestic fowl) strung along each side of the neck close to the jugular vein.
Histo-morphological studies on thymus of Pati duck
The thymus of Pati duck consisted of a capsule made up of connective tissue fibres and cells from which trabeculae entered the parenchyma dividing that organ into a number of incomplete lobules. Numerous fine connective tissue fibres penetrated the organ from the capsule forming trabeculae (Fig 3) and divided the thymus into incomplete lobules (Fig 4). The structural changes appeared around the 3 months of life and consisted of the formation of reticular fibers, the proliferation of non-epithelial cells, presence of mucous cells and small mucous cysts andan increase in the number of plasma and myoid cells. A moderate amount of collagen fibres were observed in the capsule in day old birds. Even though with the advancement of age the amount of collagen fibre in the capsule increased, it was observed that an increased amount of collagen fibres (Fig 7) were present in 15 day old ducklings. Reticular fibres were present on the inner lining of the fibrous capsule in all age groups (Fig 8). The presence of fine nerve fibre was observed in the capsule penetrating into the parenchyma through trabeculae from day old birds to 6 months of age. The lesser amount of elastic fibres was present in the inner lining of the capsule in 4 weeks of age andit increased with the advancement of age. The unique structure of the thymus, the Hassall’s corpuscles, was formed by the hypertrophied reticulo-epithelial cells and was very common in the medulla. Parenchyma was not properly differentiated into cortex and medulla in 0 day old ducks. Myoid cells were also found in the medullary region at 15 days of age and 4 weeks post hatching. Plasma cells were found in the parenchyma at the age of 28 days post hatching. Lymphocytes were mainly present in different stages of maturation and the cells present were epithelial cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, fibroblasts, forming a meshwork. At the age of 4 weeks, it was observed that the thymic medulla started developing in the central portion of each thymic lobule. At the age of 4 months, it was observed that the medullary region is not only confined to the central portion of the lobule but was also observed in the peripheral region. Myoid cells and plasma cells were present in the thymic medulla along with thymocytes (Fig 5). The presence of hassal’s corpuscles with a diffused group of reticular cells has been observed. In birds of 6 months of age, it was observed that several diffused forms of Hassall’s corpuscles were present in the thymic cortex (Fig 6). The medullary area is not clearly differentiated into the central zone but it has been observed as small regions within the cortex as well towards the periphery of the cortex. The cortex appears basophilic due to the presence of densely packed small and medium sized lymphocytes. During the first week, the cortex contained huge pale eosinophilic structures with more frequently undergoing mitotic divisions. By the 5th week, basophilic cortex and an eosinophilic medulla were clear. This difference in the demarcation of cortex and medulla can be attributed to species variation. Patches of collagen fibres in a scanty amount in the parenchyma. In day old birds it was observed that there was a reticular mesh work in the trabeculae dividing it into various compartments. Reticular fibres were also seen in the wall of Hassall’s corpuscles in 15 day old ducklings and ducks of 16, 8, 4 weeks. In ducks of 24 weeks of age, it was observed that reticular fibres formed a typical mesh work in the entire gland.In the present study, it was observed that at the age of 15 days elastic fibres (Fig 10) were observed in the periphery of the Hassall’s corpuscles and at the age of 8 and 16 weeks, elastic fibres were seen to be sparse in cross section of artery. Myoid cells were frequently found in the medulla and in the corticomedullary region, occasionally found in the cortex. Hassall’s corpuscles were observed commonly in the medulla and less frequently in the cortical and corticomedullary junction. The reticuloepithelial cells were large cells had long cytoplasmic process both in cortex and medulla. Elastic fibres were noticed in the structures dividing the thymic parenchyma into compartments and at the periphery of Hassall’s corpuscles at 24 weeks of age.In day old birds nerve fibres were seen penetrating the trabeculae from the capsule into the parenchyma. The innervations of nerve fibres increased by the age of 8 weeks onwards (Fig 9). At 24 weeks of age distinct penetration of nerve fibres was noticed in the inter lobular spaces.
The thymus of Pati duck composed of a capsule made up of connective tissue fibres as well as cells from which trabeculae entered the parenchyma dividing that organ into a number of incomplete lobules. Abundant fine connective tissue fibres penetrated the organ from the capsule forming trabeculae and divided the thymus into incomplete lobules in consonance with
Sultana et al., (2012) observed that the thymus was encapsulated by a thin connective tissue capsule from where abundant fine septa of connective tissue invaginate to divide the organ into lobules which were not separated completely. This is in accordance with our findings. The structural changes appeared around the 3 months of life and consisted of the formation of reticular fibers, the proliferation of non-epithelial cells, presence of mucous cells and small mucous cysts andan increase in the number of plasma and myoid cells. A moderate amount of collagen fibres were observed in the capsule in day old birds. Even though with the advancement of age the amount of collagen fibre in the capsule increased, it was observed that an increased amount of collagen fibres was present in 15 day old ducklings. Reticular fibres were present on the inner lining of the fibrous capsule in all age groups. The presence of fine nerve fibre was observed in the capsule penetrating into the parenchyma through trabeculae from day old birds to 6 months of age. The lesser number of elastic fibres were present in the inner lining of the capsule in 4 weeks of age andthe presence of it increased with the advancement of age. The trabeculae were appreciated, extending from the capsule deep into the parenchyma dividing the gland into lobules in 0-day old birds up to 24 weeks of age.
Akter et al., (2006) opined that a thin connective tissue capsule encircles the thymus. The thymus was divided into incompletely separated lobules by a numerous fine septum which originate from the thymic capsule. Each lobule is organized into a peripheral cortex and a central medulla. In our finding it was observed that the lobes were not distinctly differentiated. It is in accordance with the findings of our investigation. The parenchyma of the thymus consisted of the cortex and medulla and their proportion varied at different ages. The unique structure of the thymus, the Hassall’s corpuscles, was formed by the hypertrophied reticulo-epithelial cells and was very common in the medulla.
Franchini and Ottaviani (1999) found that in
Gallus domesticus the distinct demarcation between the cortex and medulla is lost with the advancement of age. At the age of 4 weeks, it was observed that the thymic medulla started developing in the central portion of each thymic lobule. Hassal’s corpuscles were well appreciated in the thymic lobules. Myoid cells were also present in the lobules. At the age of 4 months, it was observed that the medullary region is not only confined to the central portion of the lobule but was also observed in the peripheral region. Myoid cells and plasma cells were present in the thymic medulla along with thymocytes. The presence of hassal’s corpuscles with a diffused group of reticular cells has been observed. In birds of 6 months of age, it was observed that several diffused forms of Hassall’s corpuscles were present in the thymic cortex. The medullary area is not clearly differentiated into the central zone but it has been observed as small regions within the cortex as well towards the periphery of the cortex. At 6 months of age, it was observed that there was distinct penetration of nerve fibre in the interlobular space.
Leena et al., (2008) found that in newly hatched birds the thymus is comprised of pyramidal or polygonal lobules. The cortex appears basophilic due to the presence of densely packed small and medium sized lymphocytes. By the first week of age after hatching the differentiation of the cortex and medulla started and was distinct by the third week of age. During the first week, the cortex contained huge pale eosinophilic structures with more frequently undergoing mitotic divisions. By the 5
th week, basophilic cortex and an eosinophilic medulla were clear. This difference in the demarcation of cortex and medulla can be attributed to species variation. Patches of collagen fibres in scanty amounts in the parenchyma. In day old birds it was observed that there was a reticular mesh work in the trabeculae dividing it into various compartments. Reticular fibres were also seen in the wall of Hassall’s corpuscles in 15-day old ducklings and ducks of 16, 8,4 weeks. In ducks of 24 weeks of age, it was observed that reticular fibres formed a typical mesh work in the entire gland.
Treesh et al., (2014) found that Hassall’s corpuscles had structure less hyalinised centre and peripheral concentrically arranged reticulo epithelial cells, in addition to inter septal position of aggregation of fat cells. In the present study, it was observed that at the age of 15 days elastic fibres were observed in the periphery of the Hassall’s corpuscles and at the age of 8 and 16 weeks, elastic fibres were seen to be sparse in cross section of artery.Hassall’s corpuscles were observed commonly in the medulla and less frequently in the cortical and corticomedullary junction. The reticuloepithelial cells were large cells had long cytoplasmic process both in cortex and medulla. Elastic fibres were noticed in the structures dividing the thymic parenchyma into compartments and at the periphery of Hassall’s corpuscles at 24 weeks of age. In day old birds nerve fibres were seen penetrating the trabeculae from the capsule into the parenchyma. The innervations of nerve fibres increased by the age of 8 weeks onwards. At 24 weeks of age distinct penetration of nerve fibres was noticed in the inter lobular spaces.
