Age-related changes in the secretory-dendritic cells of the pigeon bursa of Fabricius: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study

Summary The present study was undertaken to determine, by means of immunohistochemical techniques, image analysis and ultrastructural methods, whether the secretory-dendritic cells (SDC) of the pigeon bursa of Fabricius undergo changes from hatching to the involutive stage (120 days) of the organ. A monoclonal antibody against vimentin (VIM) was used to label SDC. VIM-like immunoreactivity (VIM-L IR) was observed labelling dendritic cell profiles in all age groups. These cells are primarily localized within the medulla and at the cortico-medullary border of the lymphoid follicles. At hatching VIM-L IR was present mainly in the cell bodies, whereas during post-hatching bursal growth (7 to 75 days) it was also present in the cell processes. Conversely, the involutive period examined (90–120 days) was characterized by a progressive decrease of VIM-L IR in the SDC processes. Quantitative studies confirmed the immunohistochemical findings. At the ultrastructural level, there was a progressive increase from 0 to 90 days of age in both the number and size of secretory granules and break-down bodies, as well as in the length of the SDC processes. The involutive stage showed the reverse phenomena. The present results demonstrate that the SDC of the pigeon bursa of Fabricius undergo age-related changes parallel with that of the organ. The possible involvement of SDC in the maintenance of the bursal microenvironment and their role in the maturation of lymphoid line cells is discussed.