LLMC may interact with mast cells in the thymus.

<p><b>A:</b> Oil Red O⁺ LLMC (white arrowheads) possibly interacting with toluidine blue-stained metachromatic purple mast cells in the thymus from middle-aged mice. <b>B:</b> TEM photomicrograph shows intrathymic LLMC contacting mast cell (MC). Scale bars in A: 15 μm; and B: 0.5 μm. <b>C:</b> Graphic representation of intrathymic mast cells density in mice with 3, 12 or 24 months of age (n = 4). Results are shown as mean ± SEM. * p<0.05; ** p<0.005.