Abstract
To determine whether functional T- and B-cells can affect differentiation and/or proliferation of uterine natural killer (uNK) cells, their numbers in SCID mice (genotype, C.B.-17/Icr-scid/scid) were compared to that of control mice (genotype, C.B.-17/Icr-+/+) on days 8, 12 and 16 of pregnancy. Using biotinylated-Dolichos bioflorus agglutinin (DBA) lectin staining, uNK cells can be readily classified into 4 subtypes, I to IV, from immature to mature types. The number of uNK cells was significantly lower in the decidua basalis of SCID mice than that of control mice on day 8 of pregnancy. Particularly, the number of uNK cells of immature subtype II was significantly lower in SCID mice than the control mice. By day 12, however, the uNK cell number in SCID mice reached the same level to that of control mice. It is likely that uNK cell differentiation in SCID mice was delayed during early placentation period, due to lack of functional T- and B-cells.
