The effect of interferon on the structural organization of the rat thymus
Maĭborodin, I.V.; Borodin, I.I.; Grigor'ev, V.N.; Gavrilin, V.N.
Biulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny 118(12): 609-612
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0365-9615 PMID: 7703456 Document Number: 424787
Light microscopy was used to study changes in the thymus of Wistar rats during various periods of time after administration of aqueous solutions of alpha-interferon. Fourteen days following the administration, a decrease was observed in the relative weight of the organ, cortical substance volume, small and medium lymphocyte count, and the number of mitoses. At the same time, an increase was observed in the count of macrophages, neutrophils, mature plasmocytes, eosinophils, erythrocytes as was the appearance of mast cells. It was concluded that alpha-interferon, apparently, suppressed the formation of T-lymphocytes, facilitated allergization of the body and increased the permeability of vascular wall permeability.