Premium
Effect of Pregnancy on Thymic T Cell Development
Author(s) -
Ruhsinghani Asha G.,
Bhatia Sudershan K.,
Tygrett Lorraine T.,
Waldschmidt Thomas J.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1996.tb00052.x
Subject(s) - pregnancy , andrology , medicine , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
PROBLEM: The thymus gland decreases in size during pregnancy. The significance of this alteration is not known. METHOD: In this report, we examined thymic function by evaluating the development of T lymphocytes in the thymus of pregnant Balb/c mice at 15 and 20 days gestation using multi‐color flow cytometry. Comparative analysis was made with non‐pregnant mice, postpartum lactating mice, and postpartum non‐lactating mice. RESULTS: Progressive reduction of thymic size and cellularity during pregnancy was observed. All of the CD4 and CD8 defined subsets were reduced, with a disproportionate loss of CD4+, CD8+ double positive cells. Examination of the CD4‐, CD8‐ double negative compartment revealed a predominance of TCR α,β+ double negative cells, and a striking loss of precursor cells. The CD3‐, CD4‐, CD8‐ triple negative thymic subset was composed almost entirely of the earliest population (CD44+, CD25‐), with the remaining maturational stages (CD44+, CD25+; CD44‐, CD25+; and CD44‐, CD25‐) depleted. At 2 weeks postpartum, the subset ratios normalized, and the total cell count showed recovery. CONCLUSION: T cell development is blocked at the precursor level during the mouse pregnancy. These effects are transient, and gradual recovery is observed in the postpartum period.