Erythropoiesis in the thymus of the spotless starling, Sturnus unicolor

Although previously described in other avian species, intrathymic erythropoiesis is a remarkable feature of the thymus of Sturnus unicolor. In discrete stages of the life cycle of this species, erythroblasts and mature erythrocytes occupy large areas of the thymic cortex and cortico-medullary border. Simultaneously, degenerated thymocytes and epithelial-reticular cells occur in the same areas. The relationship between intrathymic erythropoiesis, degeneration of cortical lymphocytes and epithelial-reticular cells, and macrophage activity is discussed and related to a possible functional role of sex hormones in this phenomenon.