Pregnancy rate and embryo loss in the NK1.1+ T cell-depleted mouse.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the role of natural killer cell (NK) 1.1+ T cells in pregnancy and in embryo loss.


METHODS
Four groups of C57 mice, consisting of 20 animals each, were studied. Groups A and B included pregnant females treated with anti-NK1.1 monoclonal antibodies until they gave birth or non-NK1.1-depleted antibodies, respectively. In order to evaluate the role of NK1.1+ T cells in pregnancy, female mice in group C were treated with anti-NK1.1 monoclonal antibodies every seven days starting seven days prior to mating until they gave birth. Control mice in group D were not NK1.1-depleted. NK1.1+ T cell depletion was determined by flow cytometric analysis.


RESULTS
Depletion of NK1.1+ T cells did not significantly change the pregnancy rate, nor did it significantly alter the number of live births. Numbers of live births tended to decrease in NK1.1-depleted mice, with a mean number of live births of 4.66 as compared with 6.09 in NK1.1-depleted and nondepleted mice, respectively. Similarly, mice treated with anti-NK1.1 monoclonal antibodies every seven days starting seven days prior to mating became pregnant at a rate of 40% as compared with 60% in non-NK1.1-depleted controls. A comparable trend was observed in the number of live births, with a mean number of live births of 5.0 as compared with 6.1 in NK1.1-depleted and non-NK1.1-depleted mice, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
In the NK1.1-depleted mouse model, NK1.1+ T cells do not have any direct effect on pregnancy rate or on early embryo loss.
Samsonov
D
D
Liver Unit, Department of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Alper
R
R
Ilan
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal