title: Reactivity to alloantigens and polyclonal mitogens and CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio shifts of cervical lymph node and spleen cells during pregnancy in rats.
abstract: Cervical lymph node (CLN) cells and spleen cells were harvested from virgin and pregnant rats bearing syngeneic or allogeneic fetuses at all stages of pregnancy including the pre-implantation period. The specific and non-specific alloreactivity of these cells were analyzed in MLR against mitomycin-C treated paternal strain or unrelated cells. Mitogen stimulation of the cell cultures utilized PHA, Con-A and PWM. Cells bearing T cell markers were labeled in an indirect assay using the monoclonal antibodies W3/25 and MRC OX 8. Specific alloreactivity is enhanced at mid-pregnancy in both cell populations. Non-specific alloreactivity was suppressed in the cervical lymph node cells. Spleen cells demonstrated an increased non-specific alloreactivity and T polyclonal mitogen reactivity (PHA and Con-A) at mid-pregnancy. Reactivity to Con-A was depressed in the early phase and at the end of allogeneic pregnancy in the CLN. The CD4+/CD8+ ratio was very low during all phases of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kapovic
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rukavina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D002584:Cervix Uteri; D003208:Concanavalin A; D005260:Female; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007519:Isoantigens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A