title: Distribution of mast cell subtypes and immune cell populations in canine intestines: evidence for age-related decline in T cells and macrophages and increase of IgA-positive plasma cells.
abstract: The distribution and numbers of leucocytes and mast cells (MC) in the canine gastrointestinal tract of three different age groups was investigated immunhistochemically. In all age groups, CD3+ T cells were more prominent in the villus region than in the crypt areas without differences between intestinal segments, whereas macrophages were more randomly distributed. Kresylecht-violet and tryptase-positive MC were prominent in pericrypt regions with statistic significances. Chymase-bearing mast cells, IgA-, IgG- and IgM-containing cells did not show significant differences in their distribution but, except for IgG-positive cells, subjective trends with increasing numbers towards the crypts exist. The reasons for the distribution of T cells, macrophages, immunoglobulin-containing cells and mast cells are not clear. Lamina propria CD3+ T cells and macrophages significantly decreased whilst a significant increase of IgA-containing plasma cells with increasing age was found. For mast cell subtypes, IgG- and IgM-containing cells no significant changes in numbers with increasing age exist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Bünteweg 17, D-30559 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kleinschmidt
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meneses
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hewicker-Trautwein
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A