镉对人体及动物的毒性作用已经进行了广泛的研究。急性和慢性氯化镉中毒所致肝、肾、睾丸等脏器的组织病理改变已有大量文献报道。但镉的胸腺毒性研究较少。早在60年代,胸腺在免疫学中的地位得以肯定。胸腺是T淋巴细胞分化、成熟的场所,亦是分泌胸腺激素的内分泌器官,于青春期后,开始生理性萎缩,但这并不意味着功能的丧失。近年来,免疫学研究表明,在成年期,即使在高龄期,胸腺一直保持着功能,并能产生新的T细胞。所以,胸腺对维持成年机体的正常免疫功能,保持健康长寿仍然是必需的,研究镉对胸腺毒性具有一定实际意义。 Cadmium toxicity to humans and animals has been extensively studied. Acute and chronic cadmium chloride poisoning caused by liver, kidney, testis and other organs of the histopathological changes have been reported in large quantities. However, there is less research on the thymus toxicity of cadmium. As early as the 60s, the status of thymus in immunology was affirmed. Thymus is T lymphocyte differentiation, maturity, but also secretion of thymus hormones endocrine organs, after puberty, physiological atrophy began, but this does not mean that the loss of function. In recent years, immunological studies have shown that in adulthood, the thymus remains functional and can produce new T cells even in adulthood. Therefore, the thymus to maintain the normal immune function of adult body, to maintain healthy longevity is still necessary, the study of cadmium on thymus has a certain practical significance.