Thymus involution in alloxan diabetes: analysis of mast cells

We previously reported that alloxan-induced diabetes results in reduction in the number and reactivity of mast cells at different body sites. In this study, the influence of diabetes on thymic mast cells was investigated. Thymuses from diabetic rats showed marked alterations including shrinkage, thy...

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Published in:Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2005-03, Vol.100 (suppl 1), p.127-130
Main Authors: Barreto, E O, Riederer, I, Arantes, A C S, Carvalho, V F, Farias-Filho, F A, Cordeiro, R S B, Martins, M A, Savino, W, e Silva, P M R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alloxan
Animals
Cell Count
diabetes
diabetes - mast cells - thymus - extracellular matrix
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - pathology
extracellular matrix
Male
mast cells
Mast Cells - pathology
PARASITOLOGY
Rats
Rats, Wistar
thymus
Thymus Gland - pathology
TROPICAL MEDICINE
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Summary:We previously reported that alloxan-induced diabetes results in reduction in the number and reactivity of mast cells at different body sites. In this study, the influence of diabetes on thymic mast cells was investigated. Thymuses from diabetic rats showed marked alterations including shrinkage, thymocyte depletion, and increase in the extracellular matrix network, as compared to those profiles seen in normal animals. Nevertheless, we noted that the number and reactivity of mast cells remained unchanged. These findings indicate that although diabetes leads to critical alterations in the thymus, the local mast cell population is refractory to its effect. This suggests that thymic mast cells are under a different regulation as compared to those located in other tissues.
ISSN:1678-8060
0074-0276
0074-0276
1678-8060
DOI:10.1590/S0074-02762005000900022