SPLEEN-CELL CHANGES DURING FATAL AND SELF-LIMITING MALARIAL INFECTIONS OF MICE

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 35  (3) , 479-484
Abstract
Changes in the proportions and total numbers of splenic Thy-1 .cntdot. 2+ cells, Ig+ [immunoglobulin-positive] cells and normoblasts were analyzed during fatal Plasmodium berghei and non-fatal P. yoelii infections in mice. Thy-1 .cntdot. 2+ and Ig+ cells were identified by rosetting techniques, and normoblasts by morphological criteria. The splenomegaly observed during these infections was caused mainly by proliferation of normoblasts. An early increase in the numbers of Thy-1 .cntdot. 2+ and Ig+ cells was detected in both infections, but in P. berghei infections these responses were subsequently suppressed. In P. yoelii infections Thy-1 .cntdot. 2+ and Ig+ cell numbers were maintained at 4- to 5-fold above normal levels until the mice had completely recovered. During the acute phase of P. yoelii infection it appeared that most splenic T[thymus derived]-cells expressed surface Ig.