Toxicologic Pathology

 

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Toxicologic Pathology, Vol. 31, No. 2, 214-219 (2003)
DOI: 10.1080/01926230390183706

The Incidence of Thymic B Lymphoid Follicles in Healthy Beagle Dogs

Jan-Peter H. T. M. Ploemen

Department of Toxicology and Drug Disposition, NV Organon, Oss, The Netherlands, Jan-peter.ploemen{at}organon.com

Wilma T.M. Ravesloot

Department of Toxicology and Drug Disposition, NV Organon, Oss, The Netherlands

Eric Van Esch

Department of Toxicology and Drug Disposition, NV Organon, Oss, The Netherlands

The incidence of thymic B cell lymphoid follicles was retrospectively studied in 62 male and 58 female healthy control beagle dogs (age 11.3 ± 4.8, range 6 to 23 months). The animals were selected from toxicological studies performed in the period 1990—2001 at the Organon labs. The animals had received vehicle treatment. Thorough microscopic examination of the thymus in hematoxylin & eosin (H&E)-stained sections resulted in an unexpectedly high overall incidence of 70% of medullary lymphoid follicles. Occasionally, these lymphoid follicles contained germinal centers. With the use of a T- and B cell marker (respectively CD3 and CD79 {alpha}) we confirmed that the lymphoid follicles exclusively contained large numbers of B lymphocytes. Moreover, with the use of the B cell marker, almost all animals (97%) prove to have B cell rich medullary areas. The study also confirmed that the dog thymus underwent progressive involution during the period from 6 to 23 months of age. As a consequence of the involution, B cell areas and lymphoid follicles may be obscured in some H&E sections. Results of this study indicated that dense B lymphocyte aggregates and/or B lymphoid follicles are a normal constituent of the canine thymus.

Key Words: Thymus • canine • lymphoid follicles • germinal center • B lymphocyte • immunohistochemistry.


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