Morphological changes of thymus in retrovirus-induced murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (MAIDS)

The possible contribution of the thymus in the setting of acquired immunodeficiencies is still questioned. Here we report some new findings regarding a potential involvement of the thymus in mice infected with RadLV-Rs, a viral mixture inducing murine acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (MAIDS). Thymi were sequentially removed, weighted and morphologically analyzed at different time intervals post-infection. Infection with RadLV-Rs led to a decrease in thymus weight mostly apparent from the fourth week. The first changes were seen at the third week as perivascular clusters of B-cells at the cortico-medullary junction. The ensuing process of atrophy mainly involved the cortex, while a mixed population of large T- and B-cells filled the medulla. These observations are discussed with regard to the pathological changes occurring in other lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs, in the context of the lymphoproliferation and immunodeficiency characterizing the disease, and by comparison with other models of retrovirus-induced immunodeficiencies.