Count of T-rosette-forming cells (T-RFC) in the Spleen of Young Rats Born to Azathioprine(lmuran)-administered Pregnant Rats

Abstract

This experiment was performed through the rosette formation method to study the inhibition mechanism of the immune response in the spleen of young rats born to azathioprine-administered pregnant rats. The following results were obtained. 1. In the group I consisting of animals born to normal pregnant rats and immunized with sRBC after birth, there was increase in the number of RFC, compared with that in the group 0 consisting of animals born to normal pregnant rats and not immunized with sRBC. 2. In the group II consisting of animals born to azathioprine-administered pregnant rats and immunized with sRBC, there was decrease in the number of RFC, compared with that in the group I. However the group III, which consists of animals born to azathioprine-administered pregnant rats and inoculated with thymus cells derived from outbred animals and simultaneously immunized with sRBC, showed much more RFC than other groups. 3. Generally the 3rd day post sRBC injection groups showed more RFC than the 7th day post sRBC injection groups. 4. The number of RFC increased with age in the sRBC-injected groups. Above results suggested that peripheral T lymphocytes were depleted due to retarded fetal development of thymus caused by azathioprine.