Abstract
The localization of 5′-nucleotidase (5′NT) activity on mononuclear cells in the inflammatory focus of the submandibular gland of the adult female non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse was investigated by an enzymehistochemical technique.
At the light microscopical level, the majority of infiltrating mononuclear cells demonstrated intense reaction products on the surface and the reactive cells showed a tendency of forming groups at the center of the inflammatory focus.
At the electron microscopical level, mononuclear cells of the NOD mouse could be roughly differentiated into two kinds of cells, those which demonstrated intense reaction products on the plasma membrane (5′NT positive) and those which demonstrated less or no reaction products (5′NT negative). In the acini or granular convoluted tuble (GCT) cells, which lie adjacent to the inflammatory focus, 5′NT positive mononuclear cells were observed and the morphological appearance of these mononuclear cells resembled lymphocytes.
In the present study, the possible role and biological significance of 5′NT positive mononuclear cells in the inflammatory focus are discussed.
