Distribution of macrophages during fish development: an immunohistochemical study in carp (Cyprinus carpio, L.).
A monoclonal antibody against carp macrophages (WCL15) has been utilised in flow cytometry, immuno-histochemistry and immuno-electron microscopy to assess the distribution of monocytes/macrophages in developing carp lymphoid tissues. In suspensions of living cells WCL15 reacted strongly with cytoplasm and plasmic membrane of macrophages. It also cross-reacted with a subpopulation of thrombocytes, but this reaction could be neglected by double immunostaining in combination with a thrombocyte-specific marker. In Bouin-fixed tissues the antibody distinctly recognised macrophages. Macrophages were found from day 2 post-fertilisation in head kidney and in the dorsal portion of the yolk sac epithelium. From 1 week onwards macrophages were found scattered in thymus and gut and during the second week in spleen. Macrophages increased in number in all lymphoid tissues until the 6-8th week post-fertilisation, but they decreased except in thymus, where they became localised mainly in the cortical-medullary boundary, and in white pulp areas of head kidney. The role of macrophages in allowing an early non-specific defence in young fish and in co-operating during the differentiation processes of T-cells and B-cells is discussed.
Anatomia Comparata, Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Blocco D, Università della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy. nromano@unitus.it
N
N
Romano
S
S
Picchietti
J J
JJ
Taverne-Thiele
N
N
Taverne
L
L
Abelli
L
L
Mastrolia
B M
BM
Verburg-van Kemenade
J H
JH
Rombout
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002347:Carps / Q000196:embryology*; D002452:Cell Count; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal