The effect of haemorrhage on the cell populations of the thymus and bone marrow in wild starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

Summary Following the withdrawal of blood from the brachial vein of adult wild starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) changes in the cell populations within the bone marrow and thymus were observed over an eight day period. The packed cell volume, haemoglobin content and reticulocyte count of the peripheral blood was determined before and after haemorrhage.The maximum effect of the haemorrhage was observed in the bone marrow after four days when the population of small lymphocytes, and basophilic erythroid precursors were reduced to less than 1%. At the same time the percentage of another line of erythroid cells increased to 68%. This second erythroid lineage was the major erythroid line in the thymus, and again maximum representation occurred at 4 days post haemorrhage. After this the thymus became predominantly lymphoid and started to increase in size.The two erythroid lines are described and their status with regard to avian thrombocytes is also discussed.The peripheral blood had not attained the pre-haemorrhagic values for reticulocyte counts by eight days although the packed cell volumes and haemoglobin contents were similar.I would like to thank Dr. Peter Ward of the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology for help in obtaining the starlings. Thanks are also due to the staff of the Anatomy Department of St. Thomas's Hospital Medical School, and in particular Mr. Watson. This and other work on the thymus is possible due to the support of the Research (Endowments) Committee of St. Thomas's Hospital