Thymus development in Macaca fascicularis (Cynomolgus monkey): an approach for toxicology and embryology

Thymus development was studied in the cynomolgus monkey from day 35 of gestation (gd 35) to the stage of advanced involution in a 21-year-old monkey. Special emphasis was placed on thymus cell generation and cellular pattern formation. At gd 35, the epithelial bud of the thymus was visible in a sagittal position at the level of the thoracic aperture. At gd 50, first lymphocyte-like cells and few Human Leukocyte Antigen-D Region (HLA-DR) immunoreactive cells appeared. The cortico-medullary differentiation, Hassall's body precursors and faint immunoreactivity for T-lymphocytes (CD 3-positive) were detected from gd 60 onwards. First macrophages (CD 68 positive) were apparent at day 70, first CD 20 immunoreactive cells (B-lymphocyte-like cells) at gd 85, and natural killer cells (M1014 immunoreactive) at gd 100. At gd 100 all evaluated cell populations present in the adult cynomolgus monkey thymus were in place, whereas no B- and T-cell precursors or (CD 34 and CD 117, respectively) dendritic cells (CD 35 positive cells) were present. All these immunopositive cells persisted, partly with changing distribution patterns, until the advanced age of 21 years with the exception of natural killer cells, which were present only until adult ages (evaluation at 4-7 years). The rationale of this study was to analyse thymic development in the cynomolgus monkey and to evaluate the relevance of the development of thymus in non-human primate as a model for corresponding human targeted toxicological research.