Histological assessment of the mouse uterus from birth to puberty for the appearance of LGL-1+ natural killer cells.
The appearance of natural killer (NK) cells during growth and maturation of the murine uterus was studied by immunohistochemistry, using the monoclonal antibody LGL-1. To determine the contributions of microorganisms in the environment and of T-cell and B-cell regulation to the establishment of a uterine NK cell population, uteri from barrier-raised, flora-defined, random-bred CD-1 mice and from genetically T-cell- and B-cell-deficient SCID mice (genotype C.B-17 scid/scid) were compared to uteri from conventionally raised CD-1 mice. Uteri were studied from birth to the ages at which these mice are normally paired for mating (7-10 wk). Absolute uterine weight and the ratio of uterine weight to body weight increased remarkably between 3 and 5 wk of age in each group of animals. Growth continued beyond Week 5 of age, and in all groups the ratio of uterine weight to body weight was similar at puberty, although both the flora-defined CD-1 and SCID mice were significantly smaller than conventionally reared mice. LGL-1+ cells could not be detected in any of the neonatal uteri examined. LGL-1+ cells were first detected at 2 wk of age in uteri from the conventional and flora-defined CD-1 mice. A significant increase in the number of LGL-1+ NK cells occurred in the CD-1 uterus between Weeks 2 and 3 of age and again between Weeks 5 and 7 of age. Environmental conditions did not alter the frequency of LGL-1+ cells between the two groups of CD-1 mice at any age studied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Kiso
Y
Y
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.
McBey
B A
BA
Mason
L
L
Croy
B A
BA
D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal