Immunohistochemical comparison of T-cell and macrophage populations in mammary tissue of control andTrichinella spirails-infected rats
✍ Scribed by Kumar, Shantha N. ;Steven, William M. ;Stewart, George L. ;Seelig, Leonard L.
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1991
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 661 KB
- Volume
- 230
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0003-276X
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✦ Synopsis
We have shown that antigen-specific T lymphocytes can mediate maternal-to-neonatal immunity during lactation. Present studies address the dynamics of lymphocyte accumulation in the mammary gland during normal and disease stimulated conditions. Monoclonal antibodies specific for total T cells, suppressor/cytotoxic and helper subsets, and macrophages were used in conjunction with immunohistochemistry to identify and count the individual cell types. In unstimulated mammary tissue, following a rise in T cells to maximal numbers in late pregnancy, the total number of T cellslhigh power field (HPF) was significantly diminished in early lactation and continued to decline to the late lactation period. Both the numbers of T cells/HPF located in the mammary alveolar epithelium and surrounding connective tissue were significantly reduced in early lactation as compared to late pregnancy. This indicates the possible passage of cells into the milk during lactation. Prior infection of the mother with Trichinella spiralis and a secondary challenge 48 h. before sacrifice caused a significant reduction in the number of T cells in the mammary tissue in early lactation as compared with unstimulated controls, indicating the possibility of a n even greater outflow of T 0 1991 WILEY-LISS, INC.