Genesis of Hassall's Corpuscles (original) (raw)
- Letter
- Published: 22 July 1967
Nature volume 215, pages 408–409 (1967)Cite this article
- 154 Accesses
- 6 Citations
- Metrics details
Abstract
HASSALL'S corpuscles, a characteristic structure of the thymus, are composed of acidophilic concentrically arranged cells. Only two hypotheses1,2 for the genesis of these corpuscles account for the epithelioid character of their cells, their extensive branching3, the presence of a lumen at different stages of their development, and the presence of vascular elements within them. If the Hassall's corpuscles have a vascular origin4,5, this suggests that they are derived from the occlusion of capillary segments followed by inspissation of their contents, and necrosis of the vascular endothelium with proliferation of the neighbouring epithelium to form their typical “onion-like” structure. The other hypothesis3,6 suggests that Hassall's corpuscles develop from persistent thymopharyngeal ducts lined with epithelium and that the frequent vascular elements are derived from the associated venules. Our evidence—obtained during an investigation of antigen localization in organs—supports the blood vessel origin of Hassall's corpuscles.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Additional access options:
Similar content being viewed by others
References
- Hammar, J. A., Anat. Anz., 27, 23 (1905).
Google Scholar - Blau, J. N., Nature, 208, 564 (1965).
Article ADS Google Scholar - Schambacher, A., Virch. Arch. Path. Anat., 172, 368 (1903).
Article Google Scholar - Afanassiew, B., Arch. F. Mikroskop. Anat., 14, 1 (1877).
Article Google Scholar - Mackay, I. R., Masel, M., and Burnet, F. M., Australasian Ann. Med., 13, 5 (1964).
Article CAS Google Scholar - Shier, K. J., Lab. Invest., 12, 316 (1963).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar - Ada, G. L., Nossal, G. J. V., Pye, J., and Abbot, A., Austral. J. Exp. Biol. Med. Sci., 42, 267 (1964).
Article CAS Google Scholar - Rhoades, R. P., in Histopathology of Irradiation (edit. by Bloom, W.), 712 (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1948).
Google Scholar
Author information
Author notes
- BERNARD N. JAROSLOW
Present address: Biology Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois
Authors and Affiliations
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
BERNARD N. JAROSLOW
Authors
- BERNARD N. JAROSLOW
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
JAROSLOW, B. Genesis of Hassall's Corpuscles.Nature 215, 408–409 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/215408a0
- Received: 23 February 1967
- Revised: 17 March 1967
- Issue Date: 22 July 1967
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/215408a0
This article is cited by
The development and structure of Hassall's corpuscles in the guinea pig
- T. Mandel
Zeitschrift f�r Zellforschung und Mikroskopische Anatomie (1968)
- T. Mandel