Differential distribution of T lymphocyte subpopulations in the bovine mammary gland during lactation.
The existence and distribution of T lymphocyte subpopulations in the mammary parenchymal tissue of cows were immunohistochemically detailed during early lactation. CD2+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes were localized primarily in the mammary parenchymal tissue. CD8+ T lymphocytes were predominant over CD4+ T lymphocytes and occurred in close contact with the alveolar epithelium and between epithelial cells in the central area of the upper mammary gland. CD4+ T lymphocytes were present in equal numbers in the epithelial and connective tissue area. Occasionally, both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes formed cell clusters in the interalveolar connective tissue. The ratio of CD4+ T lymphocytes to CD8+ T lymphocytes was less than 1.0 and was lower in the epithelial area than in the connective tissue. The distribution of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes was similar in the parenchymal tissue of the gland cistern. The observation that there is a preferential presence of CD8+ T lymphocytes in the epithelial area of the bovine mammary gland during early lactation might indicate that these cells participate in the maintenance of the integrity of the epithelium.
Yamaguchi
T
T
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
Hiratsuka
M
M
Asai
K
K
Kai
K
K
Kumagai
K
K
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002417:Cattle; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000276:immunology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000276:immunology*; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte