EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THYMIC LYMPHOCYTES IN MICE STUDIED BY LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

Thymic rudiments from mouse embryos varying in gestational from 10–13 days were examined by light and electron microscopy in an effort to learn the origin of thymic lymphocytes. Lymphocytes were recognized and distinguished from mesenchymal cells and thymic epithelial cells by their round shape, larger nucleoli, and high concentration of cytoplasmic ribosomes and dearth of endoplasmic reticulum. No lymphocytes could be found at the earliest stage of development of the third pharyngeal pouch — at approximately ten days' gestational age. They first appeared in the mesenchyme surrounding the third pouch at a later stage, (approximately 11 days' gestation), but in most cases did not appear in the thymic epithelium until the parathyroid and thymus began to differentiate at approximately 12 days' gestation. No cells were seen that appeared to be transitional between lymphocytes and epithelial or mesenchymal cells and it was concluded that these observations support the hypothesis that lymphocytes first reach the thymic parenchyma by immigration from the surrounding mesenchyme. Most of the lymphoctyes found in the region of the thymus at these stages of development were large lymphocytes. The origin of these early lymphocytes remains unknown. Copyright © 1969 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.