Immune System

Thymus - Pigment

Narrative

Comment:

Pigment in the thymus is an uncommon finding and is primarily characterized by the presence of golden to dark brown pigment within macrophages. Pigment may be hemosiderin (Figure 1 and Figure 2) or ceroid/lipofuscin. Hemosiderin is an iron-containing golden-brown granular material, and macrophages containing this pigment are typically observed with sinus erythrocytosis, congestion, or hemorrhage. Lipofuscin is also a yellow-brown, finely granular pigment; however, it is derived mainly from the breakdown products of lipids, such as cell membranes. Ceroid is a variant of lipofuscin that is acid-fast and autofluorescent. Definitive differentiation of these pigments with conventional hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining is not possible. Hemosiderin can be identified with iron stains such as Perl''s iron and Prussian blue, both of which stain the pigment blue. Ceroid/lipofuscin can be identified with Sudan black B, Schmorl''s reaction, Oil red O, carbol lipofuscin stain, periodic acid-Schiff, Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast stain, autofluorescence, or lysosomal acid phosphatase and esterase stains.

Recommendations:

Pigment in the thymus should be diagnosed and given a severity grade. However, not all pigments have to be diagnosed, as some are ubiquitous in aging animals or related to some other disease process and not toxicologically meaningful. The pathologist should use his or her judgment in deciding whether deposits of pigment are toxicologically significant or prominent enough to warrant a separate diagnosis. Definitive pigment identification is often difficult in histologic sections, even with a battery of special stains. Therefore, it is recommended that a diagnosis of "pigment" (as opposed to diagnosing the type of pigment, e.g., hemosiderin or lipofuscin) is most appropriate. The pathology narrative should describe the morphologic features of the pigmentation.

References:

Elmore SA. 2006. Enhanced histopathology of the thymus. Toxicol Pathol 34:656-665.

Full Text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1800589/

National Toxicology Program. 2008. NTP TR-541. Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Formamide (CAS No. 75-12-7) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Gavage Studies). NTP, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Abstract: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/29290

All Images

Thymus - Pigment in a female F344/N rat from a chronic study. Brown pigment (likely hemosiderin) (arrow) is present at the thymus corticomedullary junction.

Thymus - Pigment in a female F344/N rat from a chronic study (higher magnification of Figure 1). Numerous macrophages contain intracytoplasmic dark brown granular pigment (arrow).

Authors and Reviewers

Authors

Kristen Hobbie, DVM, PhD
Principal Pathologist
Huntingdon Life Sciences
Peterborough, UK

Susan A. Elmore, MS, DVM, DACVP, DABT, FIATP
Staff Scientist, NTP Pathologist
NTP Pathology Group
National Toxicology Program
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Research Triangle Park, NC

Holly M. Kolenda-Roberts, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Veterinary Pathologist
SNBL USA
Everett, WA

Reviewers

Jerrold M. Ward, DVM, PhD, DACVP, FIATP
Veterinary Pathologist
Global VetPathology
Montgomery Village, MD

Robert R. Maronpot, DVM, MS, MPH, DACVP, DABT, FIATP
Senior Pathologist
Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc.
Research Triangle Park, NC