Epithelial‐cell architecture during involution of the human thymus

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Abstract
One hundred thymus glands were assessed histologically as to their degree of involution. Epithelial cells were demonstrated by an immunoperoxidase method using a monoclonal antibody against cytokeratin. The distribution of these cells was studied in the medulla, the cortico‐medullary junction, the cortical parenchyma and the subcapsular cortex. As involution proceeds, the loss of cells from the thymus is almost totally confined to the lymphoid‐cell elements. The architecture of the epithelial‐cell network remains largely intact although there is extensive collapse of the structure due to the loss of the intervening lymphocytes. Even when involution is apparently complete; sheets of epithelial cells can be demonstrated in the thymic remnant.