title: Demonstration of serum alpha1-macroglobulin on leucocyte surfaces in non-pregnant and pregnant rats.
abstract: alpha1-macroglobulin (alpha1-M) was demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence staining on the surface membrane of leucocytes obtained from rat blood and lymphoid tissue. The incidence of alpha1-M positive cells correlated with serum levels of the protein. Compared with blood, a significantly higher percentage of staining cells was demonstrated in spleen and lumbar lymph nodes. During pregnancy, when serum levels of alpha1-M were significantly elevated, the proportion of alpha1-M staining leucocytes increased in blood, Thymus and lymph nodes but the incidence of alpha1-M positive spleen cells was unaffected. The comparatively low incidence of alpha1-M staining thymocytes, together with the presence of alpha1-M on glass-adherent cells and on leucocytes from congenitally athymic rats, suggest that this protein is associated predominantly with B cells and monocytes.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins