Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 5, 2026
Preparation and Applications of Organotypic Thymic Slice Cultures
Published on: August 6, 2016
Studying T Cell Development in Thymic Slices
Jenny O Ross1, Heather J Melichar, Joanna Halkias
1Division of Immunology and Pathogenesis, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, 142 Life Sciences Addition, #3200, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3200, USA.
Recently, tissue slices have been adapted to study both mouse and human T cell development. Thymic slices combine and complement the strengths of existing organotypic culture systems to study thymocyte differentiation. Specifically, the thymic slice system allows for high throughput experiments and the ability to introduce homogenous developmental intermediate populations into an environment with a well-established cortex and medulla. These qualities make thymic slices a highly versatile and technically accessible model to study thymocyte development. Here we describe methods to prepare, embed, and slice thymic lobes to study T cell development in situ.
Recently, tissue slices have been adapted to study both mouse and human T cell development. Thymic slices combine and complement the strengths of existing organotypic culture systems to study thymocyte differentiation. Specifically, the thymic slice system allows for high throughput experiments and the ability to introduce homogenous developmental intermediate populations into an environment with a well-established cortex and medulla. These qualities make thymic slices a highly versatile and technically accessible model to study thymocyte development. Here we describe methods to prepare, embed, and slice thymic lobes to study T cell development in situ.
