Vol. 41, No. 3-4, 1997 previous next

THE LOCALIZATION OF NADPH-DIAPHORASE POSITIVE CELLS IN THE THYMUS OF RATS AND MICE

Dorko, F.*, Kočišová, M.*, Schmidtová, K.*, Kluchová, D.*, Dorko, E.**

* Faculty of Medicine
P. J. Šafárik University
Anatomical Institute
Šrobárova 2
040 01 Košice
Slovak Republic		 ** Faculty of Medicine
P. J. Šafárik University
Microbiological Institute
Šrobárova 2
040 01 Košice
Slovak Republic

Summary

The localization of diaphorase activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH-d), acting as a marker of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), was studied in the thymus of rats and mice. The results obtained can help to form a morphological basis for understanding the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the thymus. Histochemically visualised deep-blue-stained NADPH-d structures of active cells showed different distributions of this activity in both species of experimental animals used.
The NADPH-d active cells observed in the rat thymus were irregular with numerous projections and were located on the boundary of the cortex and the medulla.
The NADPH-d active cells in the thymus of mice were located predominantly in the cortex. They varied in colouration and their shape was oval, round, or irregular. NADPH-d positive nerve fibres were located perivascularly.

Key words: NADPH-d; NO; rat; mouse; thymus

References

Back Logo UVM Forward

Folia Veterinaria / 1997