2025
OKTABR
NEW RENAISSANCE
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE
VOLUME 2
|
ISSUE 10
200
HISTOLOGICAL REMODELING OF THE THYMUS UNDER STRESS-INDUCED
SECONDARY IMMUNODEFICIENCY
Azimova Dilora Alijon qizi
Asian International University.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17449826
Relevance
The increasing prevalence of psychosocial stressors, malnutrition, and environmental
factors has significantly contributed to the development of secondary immunodeficiency
worldwide.
The thymus, as the central organ of T-lymphocyte maturation, is one of the most stress-
sensitive structures. Understanding thymic morphological damage under stress is crucial for early
diagnosis, prevention, and development of therapeutic strategies in clinical immunology and
pathomorphology.
Objective
To investigate stress-induced histological and cellular changes in the thymus based on
experimental models simulating secondary immunodeficiency.
Materials and Methods
Experimental stress conditions were modeled in rats using immobilization, cold exposure
(4–6 °C), corticosteroid injections, and sleep deprivation over 14–30 days. After euthanasia,
thymic samples were collected and analyzed with:
Hematoxylin–eosin staining,
PAS reaction,
Van Gieson method,
Immunohistochemistry (CD3, CD4, CD8, caspase-3),
Light and electron microscopy.
Morphometric measurements were used to quantify cortical and medullary alterations.
Results
Significant degenerative and apoptotic processes were revealed:
Massive lymphocyte apoptosis and necrosis in the cortical layer;
Medullary lymphocyte depletion;
Vacuolization, wrinkling, and shrinkage of Hassall’s corpuscles;
Stromal disintegration and perivascular edema;
Microcirculatory disorders such as congestion, hemorrhage, and stasis;
Fatty infiltration and diffuse thymic atrophy.
The main pathogenic mechanism was linked to glucocorticoid-induced caspase-mediated
apoptosis of thymocytes. Structural reduction of lymphoid reserves can predispose to infection
and autoimmunity.
2025
OKTABR
NEW RENAISSANCE
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE
VOLUME 2
|
ISSUE 10
201
References
1.
Sapolsky R. (2018). Stress and Immunosuppression in Mammals. Journal of
Neuroimmunology.
2.
Petrova L. (2021). Morphological Changes of the Thymus Under Stress. Morphology
Journal.
3.
Glaser R., Kiecolt-Glaser J. (2019). Experimental Stress Models in Rats. Brain Behav
Immun.
