Investigation of lymphocyte subpopulations and hypersensitivity skin tests during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
Cell-mediated immune responses were examined during the menstrual cycle of 10 healthy females and in 90 pregnant females, 10 for each month of gestation, and in 10 females 2--4 weeks after normal delivery. Lymphocytes and their subpopulations and PPD hypersensitivity skin tests were investigated. The lymphocyte subpopulation T-cells showed statistically significant depression at the time of ovulation (P less than 0.01) and during the entire period of gestation (P less than 0.001) with recovery in the post-partum period. There was borderline PPD skin response during pregnancy which became positive after parturition. These changes were demonstrated to be specific to conception but the exact mechanism of the T-cell depression is not known. There was a corresponding rise in the B-cell count.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008598:Menstruation; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes; D014374:Tuberculin Test