Involution of bursa cloacalis (Fabricii) and thymus in Cyclosporin A-treated chickens

Fifty-day-old Arbor Acres chickens received a daily oral dose of 30 mg/kg Cyclosporin A for 21 consecutive days. This treatment induced the striking morphological changes in the bursa cloacalis (Fabricii). The number of bursal follicles did not change, but they were markedly decreased in size. The pars lymphoreticularis was collapsed and contained smaller accumulations of lymphocytes. The pars lymphoepithelialis was almost totally devoid of lymphocytes and it was composed of an empty network of epithelial cells. Interfollicular epithelium, follicle-associated epithelium, basement-membrane-associated epithelium and bursal epithelial cytoreticulum were not changed. The thymus also displayed substantial structural changes, whereby the thymic medulla was strongly reduced in size.