Influence of the Estrous Cycle on the Presence and Distribution of Immune Cells in the Rat Reproductive Tract

American Journal of Reproductive Immunology - Tập 39 Số 3 - Trang 209-216 - 1998
Charu Kaushic1, Elaine Frauendorf1, Richard M. Rossoll1, Jan Richardson1, Charles R. Wira1
1Department of Physiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire

Tóm tắt

PROBLEM: Previous studies have shown that the uterus and vagina contain cells that can present antigen to ovalbumin‐specific T‐cells. The objective of the present study was to systematically characterize the immune cells [major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class‐II+, macrophages, granulocytes, dendritic cells, and CD8+ cells] present in the uterus and vagina of the rat and to examine their distribution at various stages of the estrous cycle.METHOD OF STUDY: Uterine and vaginal tissues from female rats were selected at various stages of the estrous cycle and were examined by immunohistochemical analysis. MHC class‐II (Ia)‐positive cells were detected using the OX‐6 monoclonal antibody; macrophages, granulocytes, and dendritic cells were detected by OX‐41 monoclonal antibody and CD8‐positive T‐cells were identified by OX‐8 monoclonal antibody.RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis showed cycle‐dependent changes in the immune cell populations in the uterus and vagina. Ia+ cells, macrophages, granulocytes, and dendritic cells were present in large numbers in the stroma of the endometrium and around the glandular epithelium in the uterus at estrus, the stage of the reproductive cycle when estradiol levels are known to be high, relative to those seen at diestras, when estrogen levels are low and progesterone is the predominant hormone. CD8+ cells were observed in the uterus interspersed between glandular epithelial cells at estrus. Immune cells were more numerous in the vagina, relative to the uterus. OX‐6‐ and OX‐41‐positive cells were present in greater numbers in the subepithelial layers of the vagina at diestras, in contrast to estrus.CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that a variety of immune cells are present in the reproductive tract and that their number and distribution vary in a tissue‐specific manner with the stage of the estrous cycle.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

10.1016/B978-012410580-5/50029-7

10.1038/268534a0

10.1095/biolreprod32.1.90

Wira CR, 1992, Hormones and Fetal Pathophysiology, 343

10.1210/en.136.7.2836

10.1095/biolreprod57.5.958

10.1095/biolreprod50.3.461

Kamat BR, 1987, The immunocytochemical distribution of leukocytic subpopulations in human endometrium, Am J Pathol, 127, 66

10.1016/0198-8859(89)90060-8

Kutteh WH, 1988, Secretory immune system of the female reproductive tract: I, Immunoglobulin and secretory component-containing cells. Obstet Gynecol, 71, 56

10.1016/0165-0378(90)90015-X

Nandi D., 1993, Characterization of neutrophils and T lymphocytes associated with the murine vaginal epithelium, Reg Immunol, 5, 332

10.1095/biolreprod44.3.491

Bjercke S., 1993, Glandular distribution of immunoglobulins, J chain, secretory component, and HLA‐DR in the human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle, Hum Reprod, 8, 1420, 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a138271

10.1016/0165-0378(86)90007-0

Wira CR, 1995, Antigen presenting cells in the female reproductive tract: Influence of sex hormones on antigen presentation in the vagina, Immunology, 84, 505

10.1210/en.136.10.4526

Sato Y., 1986, A simplified technique of tissue processing and paraffin embedding with improved preservation of antigens for immunostaining, Am J Pathol, 125, 431

10.1016/S0074-7696(08)62189-0

Noun A., 1989, Cells bearing granulocyte‐macrophage antigens in the rat uterus before and during ovum implantation, Clin Exp Immunol, 78, 494

Thông tin
Thông tin xuất bản

American Journal of Reproductive Immunology

Tập 39 Số 3

209-216

Thông tin tác giả