RESUMO
Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine age- and gender-related values for healthy mice of CD3+ T and CD19+ B lymphocytes and CD3+/ CD19+ (T/B) ratios in peripheral blood and gingival tissue by the flow cytometry technique. Methods: The study was carried out on periodontally healthy 60 BALB/c mice. They were divided into five groups according to the their age (newborn, weaning, puberty, adult and elder). Males and females were equally represented in each group. CD3+ and CD19+ T lymphocytes and CD3+/CD19+ ratio values in gingival tissue and peripheral blood were determined using flow cytometry in the biopsy samples. Results: There were no significant differences in the CD3+ and CD19+ lymphocytes, and CD3+/ CD19+ ratios in gingival tissue for all age groups (p>0.05). Mean relative number of peripheral blood CD3+ T lymphocyte indicated a decrease in puberty group compared to the other groups (p<0.05), while relative number of peripheral blood CD19+ B lymphocyte increased in adult and aged group. The peripheral blood CD3+/ CD19+ T/B lymphocytes ratios decreased in adult and aged group. Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that differences were present in periods of life and gender in peripheral blood of mice. Moreover,significantly differences were found between genders in gingival tissue.