Changes in immunological activity of rat lymphoid organs during pregnancy. 1978

S Bauminger, and S Peleg

Immune reactivity in lymhoid organs of rats during the last week of syngeneic (Lewis: L x L) or allogeneic (females Lewis x males Wistar: L x W) pregnancy was compared with that found in non-pregnant animals. The thymus weight was slightly reduced and the response of thymic lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin A was slightly, but not significantly, elevated in pregnant rats. By contrast, the response of lymphoid cells from spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes to the mitogens was reduced in rats during advanced pregnancy. The immune response of lymphocytes from pregnant L x W rats to allogenic (Brown-Norway: BN) or semiallogeneic (W) irradiated cells was tested by the mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) assay. The MLC response of para-aortic lymph nodes towards the unrelated BN cells was elevated over that of non-pregnant rats on day 15 of pregnancy. No significant enhancement was observed at the same time in the MLC response of mesenteric lymph nodes. On day 20 of pregnancy, a reduced MLC response towards BN cells was found in the mesenteric and para-aortic lymph nodes. On day 15 of pregnancy, the MLC response of mesenteric and, more markedly, that of para-aortic lymph nodes to paternal (W) cells was enhanced, as compared to that of non-pregnant rats. On day 20 of pregnancy, the response of mesenteric lymph nodes was suppressed, while the response of para-aortic lymph nodes was similar to that found in non-pregnant rats. Since the latter lymph nodes are the most directly exposed to antigenic stimulation from the uterus, it seems unlikely that the suppression in response to T-cell mitogens observed in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes during pregnancy accounts for the survival of the foetus. It seems more plausible that local factors in the vicinity of the uterus protect the foetus from being rejected.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007959 Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed Measure of histocompatibility at the HL-A locus. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from two individuals are mixed together in tissue culture for several days. Lymphocytes from incompatible individuals will stimulate each other to proliferate significantly (measured by tritiated thymidine uptake) whereas those from compatible individuals will not. In the one-way MLC test, the lymphocytes from one of the individuals are inactivated (usually by treatment with MITOMYCIN or radiation) thereby allowing only the untreated remaining population of cells to proliferate in response to foreign histocompatibility antigens. Leukocyte Culture Test, Mixed,Mixed Lymphocyte Culture Test,Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction,Mixed Leukocyte Culture Test,Mixed Leukocyte Reaction,Leukocyte Reaction, Mixed,Leukocyte Reactions, Mixed,Lymphocyte Reaction, Mixed,Lymphocyte Reactions, Mixed,Mixed Leukocyte Reactions,Mixed Lymphocyte Reactions
D008198 Lymph Nodes They are oval or bean shaped bodies (1 - 30 mm in diameter) located along the lymphatic system. Lymph Node,Node, Lymph,Nodes, Lymph
D008213 Lymphocyte Activation Morphologic alteration of small B LYMPHOCYTES or T LYMPHOCYTES in culture into large blast-like cells able to synthesize DNA and RNA and to divide mitotically. It is induced by INTERLEUKINS; MITOGENS such as PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININS, and by specific ANTIGENS. It may also occur in vivo as in GRAFT REJECTION. Blast Transformation,Blastogenesis,Lymphoblast Transformation,Lymphocyte Stimulation,Lymphocyte Transformation,Transformation, Blast,Transformation, Lymphoblast,Transformation, Lymphocyte,Activation, Lymphocyte,Stimulation, Lymphocyte
D008214 Lymphocytes White blood cells formed in the body's lymphoid tissue. The nucleus is round or ovoid with coarse, irregularly clumped chromatin while the cytoplasm is typically pale blue with azurophilic (if any) granules. Most lymphocytes can be classified as either T or B (with subpopulations of each), or NATURAL KILLER CELLS. Lymphoid Cells,Cell, Lymphoid,Cells, Lymphoid,Lymphocyte,Lymphoid Cell
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011270 Pregnancy, Animal The process of bearing developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero in non-human mammals, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Animal Pregnancies,Animal Pregnancy,Pregnancies, Animal
D005260 Female Females
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013154 Spleen An encapsulated lymphatic organ through which venous blood filters.
D013950 Thymus Gland A single, unpaired primary lymphoid organ situated in the MEDIASTINUM, extending superiorly into the neck to the lower edge of the THYROID GLAND and inferiorly to the fourth costal cartilage. It is necessary for normal development of immunologic function early in life. By puberty, it begins to involute and much of the tissue is replaced by fat. Thymus,Gland, Thymus,Glands, Thymus,Thymus Glands

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