Histogenesis and Morphogenesis of Hassall's Corpuscles in Human Fetuses: A Light Microscopic Study

Abstract

Twenty-eight healthy fetuses between 11-40 weeks were selected to study the histological and morphological growth of Hassall's corpuscles. We were found that Hassall's corpuscle appreciated earliest at 14th weeks and seen as two to three cells nest in area having degenerated tissues. Later, as the age of fetus advanced the size and shape of Hassall's corpuscles rapidly increasing by additions of more apoptotic cells and aggregation of reticulo-epithelial cells. Near 28th week these corpuscles showed spurt of growth and initially corpuscles were distant from each other, they started to come together e.g. reducing inter-corpuscular distance. In late stage (near term) these corpuscles fused together giving variable shapes and sizes.