Post capillary venules in the bursal T cell area of SRBC-immunized chickens following local and systemic treatment with anti T lymphocyte serum

Attached document(s)

Annexes

• AS_2_n2_438_NAU (2.0M)

Abstract

The effects of rabbit anti chicken T lymphocyte serum (RACTS) on the morphology of the diffusely infiltrated area (DIA; the bursal T cell region) of chickens stimulated either locally (per anum) or systemically (i.p.) with SRBC (a T cell dependent antigen) were studied morphometrically.

Local administration of RACTS caused prominent changes in the DIA of chickens immunized locally with SRBC. The percentage of T cells decreased very significantly (p<0.001) as did also that of MPS cells. The following morphological alterations in the PCVs of the DIA were encountered: decrease in the diameter of the PCV (D_pcv) and its lumen (D_lu) due to the flattening of the endothelial cells. In chickens, systemically immunized with SRBC, on the other hand, the percentage of T cells decreased significantly following the systemic RACTS treatment, whereas no changes in the morphology of the PCVs attributable to this treatment could be observed. The same was true when systemic RACTS treatment was combined with local SRBC-immunization.

The present results give additional evidence to the concept on the structural and functional analogy between the chicken cloacal bursa and the mammalian GALT and lymph nodes. This suggests that the bursa can function like a peripheral lymphatic organ as well.

To cite this article

About: Anita H.M. Naukkarinen

About: Kari J. Syrjänen