Development of the IgA system in the mammary gland
Lamm, M.E.; Weisz-Carrington, P.; Roux, M.E.; McWilliams, M.; Phillips-Quagliata, J.M.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 107: 35-42
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0065-2598 PMID: 742493 Document Number: 129972
Lymphoid cells from young adult virgin female mice were pulse-labelled with [125]iododeoxyuridine to label selectively the actively dividing cells (lymphoblasts), and injected into syngeneic recipients. Radioactivity in the mammary glands 20 h later was significantly greater if mesenteric (MN) rather than peripheral lymph node (PN) cells had been transferred to late-pregnant or lactating mice, but there was no difference between cell types if virgin or post-lactating mice received the cells. Results of treatment with complement and class-specific antisera against immunoglobulin indicated that the majority of the migrating MN cells were IgA-specific. Treatment of young adult virgin female mice with oestrogen, progesterone and prolactin to mimic the hormonal milieu of pregnancy and lactation stimulated mammary gland development, increased numbers of IgA-synthesizing cells in the mammary gland and brought about selective migration to the mammary gland of adoptively-transferred MN lymphoblasts. Treatment of lactating mice with testosterone decreased numbers of IgA-synthesizing cells in the mammary gland and abrogated the selective homing of MN cells.