THE EFFECT OF STARVATION ON HISTOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL FEATURES OF THYMIC EPITHELIAL RETICULAR CELLS, USING CD326 MARKER EXPRESSION, IN NEWBORN MICE

The thymus gland serves a role in the training and development of T-lymphocytes (T cell), cells of thymic gland, have vital effect in proliferation, differentiation and maturation of T- lymphocytes. They secrete certain biomarker proteins on their cell surfaces called epithelial cells adhesion molecules (EPCAM). This study aimed to analyze the effect of starvation in newborn mice on anthropometric and immunohistochemical changes of reticular epithelial cell (RECs) on growth and development of thymus gland using anti EPCAM receptor 2. The study design enrolled two groups; control groups consist of (20) newborn are sacrificed according to (1, 7, 14 and 30 days) each groups (5) litters and starvation groups consist of (15) newborn are sacrificed according to (7, 14 and 30 days) each group (5) litters and ; the thymus glands are processed histologically and immunhistochemically to demonstrate reticular epithelial cells reactivity of EPCAM by applying Aperio Algorithm software. The EPCAM are expressed and present on cell membranes of RECs are decreased with the progress of starvation involving the whole layers of thymic tissue (subcapsular, cortical, cortico-medullary and medullary areas). This indicates that EPCAM is important in signaling, proliferation and differentiation of the progenitor migrating immature thymocytes so that be graduated as mature CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes. It has prognostic value in thymic tissue development, regeneration and normal epithelial homeostasis.