Ultrastructural changes of epidermal Langerhans cells in pregnant guinea pigs. A preliminary report.
An association between pregnancy and a depression in cellular immunity has long been known, but the reason for this is far from clear. To investigate the possible role of Langerhans cells (LC) in immunosuppression during pregnancy, we examined the epidermal LC morphology of pregnant guinea pigs ultrastructurally. An altered morphology of epidermal LCs was observed in all specimens obtained from pregnant guinea pigs. LCs were found to be activated in pregnancy.
Department of Histology, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
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H
Alp
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Durgun
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Müftüoğlu
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S
Inan
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Aşan
D000818:Animals; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*