[Structural changes and functional evaluation of the thymus in aging mouse induced by D-galactose].

thymocytes. The thymus aging mouse models with different treatment time showed the atrophied thymus, decreased thymus index, constricted thymus medulla, blurred boundary of cortex and medulla, decreased plasma thymosin α1 and impaired thymic secretion function. Thymus senescence was most obvious 12 weeks after D-galactose treatment. Conclusion D-galactose can induce the atrophy of the thymus, the thymus index decreases, consticted thymus medulla and blurred boundary of the cortex and medulla,and result in impaired thymic immune and secretory functions.A subcutaneous injection of 1000 mg/kg D-galactose on the back of the neck every day for 12 consecutive weeks is a suitable method to establish a thymus aging model.