Histochemical and Morphological Characteristics of the Hassall’s Corpuscles. The Stress Affects Involution of the Ectopic Intra-Thyroidal and the Normal Position Thymus and Morphological Changes of the Hassall’s Corpuscles

Satoshi Furukawa

doi:10.4172/2157-7145.1000165

Abstract

We encountered three cases of the intra-thyroidal ectopic thymus at autopsy and also performed three autopsy cases consisted of mothers and children, and children with severe stress. The morphological and immune histochemical characteristics of the Hassall’s corpuscles were examined in those in ectopic and normal positioned thymus, and in the thymuses obtained from mothers and children, and children with severe stress. The Hassall’s corpuscles obtained from ectopic and normal positioned thymus showed resemble morphology and stainability with antibodies. These results indicate the Hassall’s corpuscles in the intra-thyroidal ectopic thymuses also possess the biological significance.

Highlights

The thymus is derived from all 3 germinal layers and arises primarily from the third pharyngeal pouch [1]
We encountered three cases of the intra-thyroidal ectopic thymus at autopsy in the last four years (Figure 1).The reactivity of the Hassall’s corpuscles with antigens used was summarized in other else [3] in which we described that there were at least four different morphology of the Hassall’s corpuscles, that is, small solid type, solid type, mosaic type, and cystic type
The thymus appears during the sixth week of gestation and is primarily derived from the ventral wing of the third pharyngeal pouch with possible minor rudimentary portions derived from the fourth pharyngeal pouch [1]

Summary

Introduction

The thymus is derived from all 3 germinal layers and arises primarily from the third pharyngeal pouch [1]. We encountered three cases of the intra-thyroidal ectopic thymus at autopsy in the last four years (Figure 1).The reactivity of the Hassall’s corpuscles with antigens used was summarized in other else [3] in which we described that there were at least four different morphology of the Hassall’s corpuscles, that is, small solid type, solid type, mosaic type, and cystic type.

Results

Conclusion