Immunohistochemical analysis of tissue distribution of B and T cells in germfree and conventional chickens.

Abstract

The distribution of lymphocytes in lymphoid organs of germfree (GF) and conventional (CV) chickens was compared immunohistochemically with several monoclonal antibodies. The lymphoid follicles in the cecal tonsils of GF chickens were more poorly developed than in those of CV chickens, and IgG and IgA positive cells were also not found in GF chickens. The number of both B and T cells in the villous region of the cecal tonsils in GF chickens was less than that in CV chickens. In the spleen of GF chickens, the distribution of B cells was similar, but T cells were distributed more widely in CV chickens than in GF chickens. There was no clear difference in the distribution of lymphoid cells in the bursa of Fabricius and the thymus. These results suggest that the development of gut-associated lymphoid tissues is affected by intestinal flora.