Surprise organ discovered in mice Mice are shown to have two thymus organs, not just one

News@Nature.com ^ | March 02, 2006 | Helen Pearson

[Marius3188]

After a century of scrutinizing the laboratory mouse, one might imagine that scientists would know the creature's body like the back of their own hands. Think again, because German researchers say they have discovered a whole new organ.

Common knowledge holds that in mice, the thymus, a pinkish-grey lump of tissue that helps to produce the infection-fighting T cells of the immune system, is roughly the size of a pea and nestles in the chest above the heart.

Now Hans-Reimer Rodewald at the University of Ulm in Germany, and his colleagues say they have discovered a smaller, second thymus hidden in the necks of lab mice. "I couldn't believe it for the first couple of months," Rodewald says. "2006 is not the time that you expect to change anatomy."

Confounding organ

The discovery raises questions about some immunology studies in mice. Researchers interested in the immune system often slice out the main thymus of mice in order to study how this system works without it, and how T cells are produced in the gut and skin.

[Marius3188]

Pretty cool.

"Confounding organ"

Quote of the day. I'll try to use that one in conversation this weekend.

[JakeSladder]

Hans is happier than a puppy with two peters.

[WayneM]

So what is the plural of thymus?

[zarf]

Watch this throw every lab study done on these things into question. LOL!

[Reaganesque]

Thymuseses?

[gaijin]

THYMAE...?

[lepton]

Gee. I was just running through a list of medical "knowledge" that wasn't so. Never thought they'd miss organs in test mice.

[SC Swamp Fox]

The answer is "42".

[vwunpimsmyride]

Now if I could give a lady a "confounding organ" moment.

[Reaganesque]

This reminds me of a Looney Tunes cartoon which featured a cat and a dog. The dog was trying to catch the cat for whatever reason and he tried holding a female cat puppet over a fence to attract the cat. The cat discovers the puppet and begins caressing her. His hand goes up and down her back until his hand ends up resting on the dog's nose. The cat, confused, looks directly into the audience and proclaims "Something new has been added!"

[Hessian]

In this case, thymeeses.

[Beelzebubba]

Mmmm...

Sweetbreads!

[Bullish]

Q: What rhymes with Thymus?

A: Another Thymus of course.

[Leo Farnsworth]

"Little white mice cause cancer..."
- a guest on Fernwood 2 Night

[Amos the Prophet]

So what is the plural of thymus?

__________________

Thymii, oh my.

[castlebrew]

well, the first one is obviously the "George Bush" thymus, and the one lurking in the background is the "Karl Rove" thymus, the real mastermind of the operation...

[Fido969]

After a century of scrutinizing the laboratory mouse, one might imagine that scientists would know the creature's body like the back of their own hands.

Hmmm... you wonder what else these guys have been missing...

[BigCinBigD]

LOL!

[Minutemen]

It took 2 centuries of disecting mice to discover they have two thymus glands?

[LibFreeOrDie]

Mutant mice???

[Getready]

puhlenty!
But the assured results of modern science has proven
without a shadow of doubt that most scientists believe
in what they have been told about subjects they themselves
don't have experience in, so most would not question
how many thymii (sp?) are in the average mouse...
this will really goof up the results of countless
immunological/cancer studies...is it possible that
humans have extra thymus or thymus like organs hanging
about???
Oh...boy, this could be huge.

[Irish Eyes]

Watch this throw every lab study done on these things into question. LOL!

That is exactly what I was thinking

[DaveLoneRanger]

"No matter how much we know, there's always an infinite amount more to know" ping.

Hard to believe that with all the mice getting cut up and used in laboratory experiments and tests, they could miss this one.

[AndrewC]

[metmom]

And scientists wonder why their credibility is questioned.

[skr]

LOL!!!

[Still Thinking]

Geez, I never thought I'd need to know the plural of "thymus"! Thymi? Thymuses? Thymice?

[Still Thinking]

Is that a miniature organ or am I just not your type?

[righttackle44]

"In this case, thymeeses."

LOL.

[ladyjane]

It is not uncommon when examining lymph nodes from the neck or parthyroid tissues (from the neck) to find thymic tissue there also. Apparently bits of organs can be found in 'heterotopic' locations!