DISTRIBUTION OF MONONUCLEAR-CELLS DURING PREGNANCY

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 31  (1) , 45-49
Abstract
Leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, the distribution of erythrocyte rosette-forming cells (E-RFC), erythrocyte-antibody-complement rosette-forming cells (EAC-RFC), cells bearing surface membrane immunoglobulin (SMIg), latex-ingesting cells and the PHA [phytohemagglutinin] stimulation index of lymphocytes were evaluated in pregnant and non-pregnant women. In the gravid female, leukocytosis due to neutrophilia is seen. The PHA-induced transformation of maternal lymphocytes in the absence of autologous plasma remains unaltered. There was a rise in the percentage of EAC-RFC and cells bearing SMIg during pregnancy, but after monocyte adsorption on plastic dishes of the mononuclear cells, obtained after Ficoll-Hypaque centrifugation, this increase was abolished. There was a significant increase of the number of latex-ingesting cells during pregnancy. These findings indicate a significant increase of the monocytes during pregnancy.