Effects of local and systemic administration of anti macrophage serum on post capillary venules in the bursal T cell area of SRBC-immunized chickens
Abstract
The effects of rabbit anti chicken macrophage serum (RACMS) on the morphology of the diffusely infiltrated area (DIA; the bursal T cell region) of chickens stimulated locally (per anum) with SRBC (a T cell dependent antigen) were studied morphometrically.
Local administration of RACMS caused pronounced morphological alterations in the post capillary venules (PCVs) of the DIA in SRBC-immunized chickens; significant decrease (p<0.001) in the diameter of the PCV (Dpcv) and its lumen (Dlu) due to the flattening of the endothelial cells. The decrease in the migration index was significant (p<0.001) as well. Local administration of RACMS decreased the percentage of MPS cells to some degree (p<0.02), whereas systemic administration of RACMS caused a highly significant decline (p<0.001) in the percentage of these cells.
This study confirms the important function of MPS cells in a T-dependent immune response, and further suggests that also circulating MPS cells like T and B lymphocytes may use the PCVs as route of migration from blood to lymphatic tissue.