title: Number, maturity and phagocytic activity of neutrophils in the three trimesters of pregnancy.
abstract: Specific immunity decreases markedly in pregnancy. This study was designed to determine whether the non-specific immunity mediated by neutrophils plays any role in coping with this immunosuppressed condition. The number of leukocytes and neutrophils, especially the number of young band neutrophils, increased gradually with the advancement of pregnancy. The phagocytic activity of neutrophils increased in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Neutrophils may compensate in part for the weakened specific immunity of pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Pramanik
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pramanik
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chanda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D007194:India; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000276:immunology; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000276:immunology; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000276:immunology; D012016:Reference Values