Experimental gingivitis during pregnancy and post-partum: immunohistochemical aspects.

The histoimmunological response of 8 individuals was studied longitudinally in relation to the development of experimental gingivitis during pregnancy and post-partum. At day 0 as well as at day 14 of experimental gingivitis the mean periodontal pocket bleeding index (PPBI) was higher during pregnancy than post-partum, whereas the amount of plaque that accumulated was similar. The number of CD1 positive cells (mainly Langerhans) in the oral epithelium was found to be higher during pregnancy. In the sulcular epithelium, however, the number of these cells tended to decrease during pregnancy as compared to post-partum. The number of CD4 positive cells in oral and sulcular epithelium was increased during pregnancy (P < 0.05). It was speculated that this increase in the number of CD4 positive cells is confined to the Th-1 subset, since the number of CD14 positive cells (mainly macrophages and granulocytes) together with the number of B cells was found to be decreased during pregnancy. Th-1 cells are known to be cytotoxic against these HLA class II antigen bearing cells. Consequently, cytotoxicity directed against B cells and macrophages may result in diminished immunoresponsiveness in pregnancy gingivitis.

Effects of cadmium exposure during pregnancy on cadmium and zinc concentrations in neonatal liver and consequences for the offspring.

The effects of cadmium exposure during pregnancy (by means of daily subcutaneous injections of 4.4 mumol/kg to the mother) on the neonates were investigated. No effect was observed on fetal or neonatal body weights, nor on neonatal liver weights. These parameters were examined up to 5 weeks after birth. The weight of neonatal thymuses was decreased 7 and 14 days after birth due to cadmium exposure of the mothers as compared with controls. This may be caused by zinc deficiency, because zinc concentrations in fetal and neonatal livers after cadmium exposure were found to be very low 20 days after conception and 5 h after birth. Cadmium concentration in neonatal liver decreased; however, cadmium in malignant liver increased as age increased. In the mother, cadmium was transferred to the milk, as it was demonstrated in the stomach contents of the pups. Simultaneous administration of zinc in amounts equimolar to cadmium did not have any noticeable effect on the amount of cadmium transferred to the fetus or on cadmium concentrations in any of the organs investigated. It could not prevent zinc deficiency in fetal and neonatal liver. In addition, growth retardation of the thymus from exposed pups could not be prevented by zinc administration.

Lymphocyte depletion in thymic nurse cells: a tool to identify in situ lympho-epithelial complexes having thymic nurse cell characteristics.

In situ pre-existing complexes of epithelial cells and thymocytes having thymic nurse cell characteristics were visualized in the murine thymus cortex using dexamethasone as a potent killer of cortisone-sensitive thymocytes. The degradation and subsequent depletion of cortisone-sensitive thymocytes enclosed within cortical epithelial cells appeared to be paralleled by thymocyte degradation and depletion in thymic nurse cells isolated from thymic tissue fragments from dexamethasone-treated animals. This suggests that thymic nurse cells are derived from pre-existing sealed complexes of cortical epithelial cells and thymocytes. Not all thymocytes situated within in situ epithelial or thymic nurse cells complexes appear to be cortisone-sensitive: a minority of 1-2 thymocytes per complex survives the dexamethasone-treatment, thus constituting a minor subset of cortical cortisone-resistant thymocytes predominantly localized within cortical epithelial cells in situ and within thymic nurse cells derived from such structures. Cortisone resistance in thymocytes thus seems to be acquired within the cortical epithelial cell microenvironment. Cortisone-resistant thymocytes in thymic nurse cells express the phenotype of mature precursors of the T helper lineage, indicating that the in situ correlates of thymic nurse cells may play an important role in T cell maturation and selection.

Differences in immunological susceptibility to cadmium toxicity between two rat strains as demonstrated with cell biological methods. Effect of cadmium on DNA synthesis of thymus lymphocytes.

When 2 inbred rat strains, the Brown-Norway rat and the Lewis rat were exposed to the same amount of CdCl2 for 15 days, a completely different immunological reaction pattern could be demonstrated. Despite the same amount of intrathymic cadmium in both strains, the Brown-Norway rat showed a significant decrease in thymocytes in the S-phase and a significant increase of thymocytes in the G2 phase and mitosis, in contrast with findings in the Lewis rats. A new method for estimating subtle forms of thymus atrophy showed a slight decrease in the number of the smallest thymocytes in the Brown-Norway rat after exposure to cadmium, in contrast with that in the Lewis rat. Evidence is presented that the approximately 1.7 times larger number of thymocytes/mg thymus in the Lewis rat, compared to the Brown-Norway rat, as well as the approximately 2.5 times lower proliferation rate of the thymocytes, and an approximately 1.5 times higher metallothionein content of the thymus medulla epithelial cells in the Lewis rat, might be responsible for the observed difference in toxicity. The zinc content of the thymus was not significantly decreased by exposure to CdCl2, and did not differ significantly between both strains.

The effects of long-term exposure to cadmium on the small blood vessels in the rat uterus: a light microscopic study.

A group of female Wistar rats was exposed to 0.5 mg/kg cadmium three times a week for a period of 29 weeks. The cadmium was administered as the chloride in saline by subcutaneous injection. A second group of female Wistars was divided into a control group and and two experimental groups. The animals in the last two groups were exposed to 0.23 and 0.046 mg/kg cadmium three times a week for a period of 82 weeks, likewise administered by subcutaneous injection, to study the long-term effects of cadmium on the microvasculature of the uterus. The small blood vessels in the myometric layer of the uteri were studied. The thickness of the media was analyzed and an inventory was made on the morphology of the media, of the endothelial layer, and of the perivascular connective tissue. A dose- and time-related increase of the thickness of the media could be demonstrated. In the highest dose group, signs of perivascular inflammatory reaction could be observed.

Effects of chronic cadmium administration on placental and fetal development.

Cadmium was administered subcutaneously to pregnant Wistar rats: 0.49 mg/kg as CdCl2 in saline daily, starting at the day of conception. Placentas and fetal livers were collected on day 14, 16, 18, 19 and 20 of gestation. Livers and thymuses from the newborns were collected 5 hours after delivery (day 22) and 1, 2 and 5 weeks after delivery. In these tissues concentrations of cadmium and zinc were determined by solid sampling ETA-AAS. Furthermore, the effect of cadmium administration on the glycogen content of the trophoblastic labyrinth and the fetal liver was studied. The concentration of cadmium in the placenta increased with time of exposure, indicating accumulation of cadmium in this organ. In the fetal liver, cadmium was present in a very low concentration, which slightly increased with longer exposure. The concentration of zinc in the placenta tends to decrease between day 14 and day 20. This decrease was observed both in control and in cadmium-exposed animals. Zinc levels increased in fetal livers from control dams, whereas this rise was markedly reduced in fetuses from cadmium-exposed animals. Placentas from cadmium-exposed animals had a changed glycogen pattern as compared to the controls, namely higher glycogen contents of the labyrinth at the end of pregnancy. However, notwithstanding lower zinc levels in the fetus and changed glycogen deposition in the placenta, it is not quite clear whether cadmium affects fetal development. No changes were observed in fetal weights or birthweights, nor in glycogen deposition of the fetal liver. Indications were obtained for reduced neonatal thymic weights.

T cell differentiation within thymic nurse cells.

Thymic nurse cells (TNC), defined as in vitro isolation products of thymic tissue, are epithelial cells harboring in their cytoplasm up to 200 intact, actively dividing thymocytes which are completely surrounded by vacuolar membranes. The TNC plasma membrane expresses major histocompatibility complex class I (H-2 K/D) and class II (I-A) antigens. The expression of MHC class I and class II antigens on the TNC vacuolar membranes was investigated with an improved in situ labeling technique. The major histocompatibility complex phenotype of the vacuolar membranes is H-2 K/D+, I-A2+ and thus identical to the TNC plasma membrane phenotype. By using the labeling technique, the TNC thymocyte population was examined for expression of the T cell differentiation antigens Thy-1, peanut agglutinin, Lyt-1, and Lyt-2, and the antigen expression was related to resistance of this population to cortisone. The majority of TNC thymocytes in individual TNC were cortisone-sensitive and expressed the immature phenotype of cortical thymocytes (Thy-1hi, PNAhi, Lyt-1lo, Lyt-2). A minority of the TNC thymocytes were cortisone-resistant and expressed a mature phenotype (Thy-1lo, peanut agglutininlo, Lyt-1hi). The existence of this minor mature population was confirmed in vivo: cortisone-resistant thymocytes were associated with cortical epithelial cells scattered throughout the thymic cortex of mice treated with dexamethasone. The major histocompatibility complex positive microenvironment of TNC and the heterogeneity in phenotype and resistance to cortisone of the TNC thymocytes, which is related to the state of maturation, indicate that TNC play an important role in the selection and differentiation of T cells.

Differential requirements for rabbit dendritic cells and macrophages in T lymphocyte proliferation induced by various mitogens.

Dendritic cells have been isolated from rabbit lymph nodes. Morphologically and phenotypically, they resemble dendritic cells from the mouse and rat. A comparison was made of the accessory cell function of dendritic cells and peritoneal macrophages in T-cell proliferation induced by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or Con A, or by a simultaneous treatment with the enzymes neuraminidase and galactose oxidase (NaGo). Dendritic cells seemed to be more effective than macrophages as accessory cells in these assays. However, macrophages suppress lymphocyte proliferation through the release of oxidating agents and production of prostaglandins. Elimination of this suppressive effect of the macrophages by addition of a combination of 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) and indomethacin in PHA-induced cell proliferation resulted in a much higher support by macrophages, giving results that were comparable to those obtained with dendritic cells, but in NaGo-induced proliferation, macrophages were still not as effective as dendritic cells in the presence of the drugs. Experiments in diffusion culture vessels and with interleukin-1-containing macrophage supernatants showed that support by accessory cells can be mediated by soluble factors in PHA-induced proliferation. In contrast, in NaGo-induced proliferation, lymphocytes and accessory cells have to interact directly.

T-cell differentiation in the rabbit. I. Cytofluorometric analysis of a T-cell antigen on lymphocytes from normal and dexamethasone-treated animals.

The specificity of a rat anti-rabbit thymocyte antiserum (ATS), as analysed with immunofluorescence techniques, is described. The antiserum was used in cytofluorometric studies to quantify the density of the corresponding T-cell antigen present on the various lymphocyte populations. On the basis of fluorescence intensity, the positive cells could be divided into four classes. Most of the thymus lymphocytes stained bright while minor subclasses were found with dull, medium and very bright staining. Steroid-resistant thymus cells stained medium and bright. Further analysis on buoyant density and characterization of ultrastructural nuclear morphology, combined with ultrastructural studies of control and steroid-resistant thymus lymphocytes in situ showed that the medium and bright fluorescent cells represent medullary and cortical cells respectively. Moreover, two types of large cells were observed. It is suggested that these two types represent different pools of cycling cells. One located in the outer cortical zone with light density and a medium fluorescence and the other located in the deep cortex with a heavy density and a very bright fluorescence for ATS; peripheral T cells express mainly dull fluorescence. A model for T-cell differentiation is proposed and discussed in respect to the density of T-cell antigen present on the thymocyte membrane.

T-cell differentiation in the rabbit. II. Con A and PHA response of thymus, spleen and lymph node cells and of thymus subpopulations; influence of dexamethasone treatment.

Mitogen-induced proliferation of rabbit lymphocytes from the thymus (Thy), spleen (Spl) and lymph node (LN) was measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation. The various cell suspensions taken from normal animals showed wide differences in their response to Con A and PHA. Cell suspensions taken from steroid-treated animals did not show differences in response. The disappearance of these differences in mitogen reactivity after steroid treatment is caused by a decreased Con A response of LN cells and an increased Con A and PHA response of Thy cells. The results suggest the existence of a steroid-sensitive (Ss). Con A-responsive cell population in LN cells. The mitogen response of untreated and steroid-resistant (SR) Thy cells was further investigated in cell suspensions separated on density gradients and in cell suspensions enriched in, or depleted of cells bearing receptors for Fc (T gamma and T non-gamma, respectively). It is concluded that Ss thymocytes of high density are mitogen non-reactive, and that Ss cells of low and medium density consist of subpopulations of cells reactive to Con A and/or to PHA. Sr thymocytes still displayed heterogeneity in buoyant density and mitogen responsiveness. Heavy cells and T gamma cells (10% of the Sr cells were T gamma) showed a lowered mitogen response. The results are discussed in relation to data describing the localization of the cell types which differ in mitogen reactivity. The results support the idea of two differentiation pathways, one for Ss and the other for Sr thymocytes.

Observations on transmembrane structures of surface immunoglobulin in the plasma membrane of B lymphocytes.

We have investigated the possible role of intramembraneous particles as revealed by freeze-fracture electron microscopy in the plasma membrane of B lymphocytes from rabbits and mice as reflections of transmembrane structures of surface immunoglobulin receptor molecules. This was achieved by aggregation of the surface receptors using fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies, fixation and freezing of the cells in 35% glycerol. This procedure resulted in replicas of lymphocytes with well-preserved morphology (no ice-crystals), enabling the study of both protoplasmic and external fracture face in combination with surface receptor markers. It appeared that very small intramembraneous particles (3-6 nm diameter) were selectively clustered under patches of surface receptor label. This phenomenon was found on the external fracture face exclusively and not on the protoplasmic fracture face. 'Classical' intramembraneous particles (6-12 nm diameter) were not involved. We suggest that these small, clustered particles should be interpreted as transmembrane structures of surface immunoglobulin molecules.

The use of tannic acid fixation for the electron microscope visualization of fluorochrome-labelled antibodies attached to cell surface antigens.

Tannic acid as a prefixative for EM purposes was introduced by Futaesaku et al. (1972). The fixative creates conditions for enhancing electron density of different protein materials. By using a mixture of tannic acid and glutaraldehyde as prefixative, followed by a routine procedure of postfixation (OsO4) and poststaining (uranylacetate and lead citrate), membrane bound antibodies not conjugated with electron dense markers are made visible under the electron microscope.

The immotile cilia syndrome: phase contrast light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy.

In the immotile cilia syndrome, transmission electron microscopy of the cilia shows abnormalities in the arrangement of the central pairs of tubules and in the dynein arms of the peripheral tubules, or in the radial spokes, We studied four nonrelated children, 9/12, 5, 6, and 6 years old, with situs inversus and a history of chronic sinusitis and bronchitis (Kartagener's syndrome) and four children in the same age group and with the same history, but without situs inversus. Under the phase contrast microscope no motile cilia were seen in the four patients with Kartagener's syndrome and in two of the four other children. Transmission electron microscopy showed aberrations in the cilia (absence of dyneim arms, random orientation of central tubules) in the patients with Kartagener's syndrome. Scanning electron microscopy revealed differences in morphology and arrangement of cilia between patients and controls. In the patients much more mucus was present on the mucosal surface. Furthermore, the cilia were in a state of disorder, with a multidirectional orientation instead of the parallel orientation seen in controls.

Cytophotometric, flow cytofluorometric and morphometric demonstration of the existence of an antigen dependent thymus lymphocyte subpopulation.

Using absorption cytophotometry and flow cytofluorometrical DNA and protein estimation of single thymus lymphocytes we were able to establish that after injection of a large dose of antigen (ovalbumin) a subpopulation of lymphocytes arises in the thymus with high protein contents above that of those lymphocytes normally present, however, in small quantities in the thymus. By morphometrical analysis it was established that these lymphocytes are situated in the outermost cortex.

Ultrastructural studies of peripheral blood lymphocytes in T cell-depleted rabbits. A scanning and transmission electron microscopic analysis.

Density separation of purified peripheral blood leucocytes from T-cell depleted rabbits on a linear Ficoll-metrizoate gradient has been applied to obtain different leucocyte fractions. Two lymphocyte fractions separated on density seem to have different characteristics, both morphologically and immunologically. In this study these two fractions have been characterized ultrastructurally by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and a relationship has been established between the surface architecture (SEM), the cell size (SEM/TEM) and surface-Ig/C3-receptors (LM, light microscopy). Finally three types of lymphocytes have been described in the two lymphocyte fractions separated on density. Morphometric information such as cell size, cell shape, eu-/heterochromatin ratio in the nucleus and the nucleus-/cell ratio have been correlated to the stage of activation of the B lymphocyte in a representative density separation.