Specific Antigens To Stimulate Immune Cells Of The Rat Mammary Gland

This study explore the immune characteristic of the rat mammary gland and immune cell in lactating period and non-lactating period by histochemical techniques.The results showed: Only mucosal mast cells(MMC) distributed in rat mammary gland without connctive mast cells.These MC sizes were similar(P>0.05).The MC numbers per field(by 40x object lens, same as the following) were 2.8 0.9 and 9.9 1.8 respectively during lactating and non-lactating periods. The number remarkably increased in dry stage(P<0.01). The lymphocytes number during lactating and non-lactating periods is respectively 11.7 2.1 and 19.6 3.0, the former have significant difference from the latter(P<0.05), without no difference to lymphocytes, respectively 1.6 0.4 and 1.5 0.7 in the two stages in peripheral blood(P>0.05). Mammary gland ANAE+ T cell numbers varied from 6.1 0.2 in lactating stage to 11.4 0.6 in dry stage(P<0.01), while ANAE+ T cell numbers in peripharal blood varied from 1.1 0.3 to 0.8 0.2 (P>0.05). CD4+ T cell numbers varied from 3.1 0.8 to 4.4 0.4 and CD8+ T cell numbers varied from 1.3 0.3 to 2.7 0.5.The former hadn't significant difference(P>0.05) but the latter significantly increased(P<0.05). CD4+/ CD8+ value reduced from 2.4 in lactating stage to 1.6 in non-lactating stage. The mammary gland plasmacyte numbers were 1.3 0.3 in lactating stage and 1.3 0.4 in dry stage. They were nearly equal to each other(P>0.05).No IgA+ lasmacytes existed in the rat mammary gland by immunohistochemical method.In conclusion, the rat mast cells belonging to mucosal mast cells without specific antigen .The level of cell immune is enhanced in non-lactating not in lactating period, although the whole immune level is great high in lactating period.. The immune of mammary gland may be a independence system. The immune properties and immune level obviously varied in physiological cycle...