ROLE OF SALIVARY GLANDS SECRETED GROWTH FACTORS ON DIFFERENTIATION OF CD3 AND CD5 CELLS OF THYMUS IN MICE

摘要

The salivary glands of several animal species contain a large number of biologically active factors, some of which affect the functions of immune system. Previous studies done to define a relationship between the salivary glands and the immune systemwere carried out largely by using mice. To explore the role of salivary gland secreted growth factors on the differentiation of thymocytes especially CD3 and CD5, we have sialoadenectomised (removal of submandibular gland) and salivariadenectomised (removal of submandibular and sublingual glands) the male albino mice at the age of 20th day and maintained under normal conditions in the animal house along with control up to the age of ten weeks. Thereafter the mice from both the groups were sacrificed; thymus was dissected out and subjected for immunohistochemical study for CD3 and CD5 cells. The CD3 complex is a group of cell surface molecules that associates with the T-cell antigen receptors among normal cells while CD5 is weakly expressed on mature Tlymphocytes. Immunohistochemical study of CD3 and CD5 showed decrease in the number of CD3 and CD5 cells in sialoadenectomised mice as compared to control and still much decrease was observed in salivariadenectomised mice as compared to sialoadenectomised mice. Thus our results indicate that absence of submandibular gland secreted growth factors decreases weight of thymus gland and causes reduction in number of thymocytes especially CD3 and CD5 cells.