Abstract
It is well established that the thymus plays a critical role in the development of immune systems, especially T-cell participating function. The hypothesis that the thymus is involved in the development of the neuroendocrine system in mammals and that, conversely, neuroendocrine regulation dominates thymic functions, is proposed(l, 2). Based on or not basing on such a hypothesis, experimental data have been accumulating that indicate some interrelation between the thymus and gonads. In 1969, Nishizuka and Sakakura described that thymectomy(Tx) in the mouse at 2–4 days of age leads to complete loss of oocytes, follicles and corpora lutea(3). This ovarian dysgenesis is noticed at 6–9 weeks of age in Tx mice and occurs under thymie regulatory functions and independently of wasting disease(4,5). Similar results, but to a lesser extent, were subsequently reported in mice(6) and in rats(7).
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