Terminally Differentiated Epithelial Cells of the Thymic Medulla and Skin Express Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subunit α3

Figure 1

Chrna3-driven eGFP expression in the thymic medulla. (a) Perivascular nerve fibers (arrows) are α3-subunit-positive. Mesenchymal elements labeled with desmin antibody for better orientation (scale bar, 20 μm). (b), (c) α3-subunit-expressing cells are located in the thymic medulla and at the corticomedullary junction. Cortex delineated by immunolabeling with K18-antibodies (scale bar, 50 μm). (d)–(g) eGFP-Positive cells either form Hassall’s corpuscles-like aggregates (scale bar, 10 μm) or lie singularly (h), (i) (scale bar, 20 μm). M: medulla; C: cortex.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(i)