Effects of thymectomy (removal of thymus)

Removal of thymus is called thymectomy. Thymus can be re-moved either in the neonates or in adults.

Neonatal thymectomy results in an immediate severe reduction in the quality and quantity of T lymphocytes.

Adult thymectomy could result in deficiency of T cell, after the eventual death of T cells that originally populated the secondary lym-phoid organs

Thymectomy affects CMI primarily. It also diminishes antibody response to certain antigens