Immunohistochemical localization of three different immunoglobulin classes in the Harderian gland of young chickens

Abstract

The chicken Harderian gland (HG) was investigated using single immunohistochemical staining for one of the three different immunoglobulins (Igs) followed by Alcian blue/periodic acid Schiff (AB/PAS) staining and triple immunohistochemical staining for all of the Igs with hot water treatment. In the HG of 5-week-old chickens, IgG-containing plasma cells were more frequent than IgA- and IgM-containing cells. These numerous IgG-containing cells were predominantly accumulated in the central region of the stroma, whereas a small number of IgA- and IgM-containing cells were scattered in the peripheral region of the stroma. Also, the plasma cells containing PAS-positive Russell bodies (RBs) exhibited distinct immunoreactivity for one of the Igs, being inversely proportional to the intensity of PAS reaction. The RB-containing cells positive for IgA were more frequent than those positive for IgM, whereas those positive for IgG were very rare. The most distinct feature of the IgG-containing plasma cells was a PAS-positive globule located close to the nucleus. Triple immunostaining with hot water treatment simultaneously identified these three Igs in normal plasma cells and RB-containing ones in the stroma of the chicken HG.