Changes in the spleen cell populations of the mouse during pregnancy--the influence of the thymus.
The spleens of "unimmunized" 14 day pregnant and virgin adult thymectomized and sham operated CBA mice were compared with respect to the content of cytotoxic T-cells immunoglobulin-secreting B-cells and strongly esterase positive cells. In addition, 14 day pregnant NMRI/nu nu (athymic) and NMRI/nu ++ (immunocompetent control) mice were investigated. Pregnant thymectomized and pregnant sham operated mice showed almost identical changes: a) enlargement of the spleen, b) slightly reduced T-cell cytotoxicity, c) a 3-fold increase in the spleen content of immunoglobulin-secreting B-cells, and d) a 4-fold increase in the proportion of esterase-positive cells. The nude mice showed the same degree of spleen enlargement and increase in the number of immunoglobulin-secreting cells during pregnancy as the immunocompetent controls.
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008819:Mice, Nude; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D007136:Immunoglobulins