The tonsil is an organ closely related to the bacteria, and plays an important role in an immunological defence activity against a variety of bacterial antigens. As concerns the factors of the immunological reaction, however, there were a few reports of the localization of antigen comparing with the large number of reports of the localization of T cell, B cell and complement. For the purpose of the review of the local immunological reaction in the tonsillar tissue on the side of antigen, the localization of bacterial antigen of the Streptococcus pyogenes (group A) and Haemophilus influenzae in the tonsils surgically removed was investigated using the immunoperoxidase technique. Furthermore, results of the examination of culture were compared the findings with histological investigation on the aspect of ability of detecting the bacteria.
The results obtained in this study were summarized as follows:
1. The particle substances considered as the Streptococcus pyogenes (group A) and Haemophilus influenzae were mainly distributed in the cryptical lumen, intraepithelial area and subepithelial area.
2. The cells containing the bacterial antigen of the Streptococcus pyogenes (group A) and Haemophilus influenzae were mainly distributed in the intraepithelial area, subepithelial area and interfollicular area, and scattered in the germinal center and mantle zone. The bacterial antigen in the germinal center were particularly distributed in the form of net or granule.
3. On the ratios of detecting the Streptococcus pyogenes (group A) and Haemophilus influenzae, the examination of culture and histological investigation were reviewed each other. The ratio of coincidence of the Streptococcus pyogenes (group A) was 75%, while that of Haemophilus influenzae was 74% respectively. When the bacteria were not found in the examination of culture, they were sometimes observed by histological investigation. The ratio of the Streptococcus pyogenes (group A) with the histological investigation showed higher than that of detecting the bacteria with the examination of culture.
The present study leads to the following conclusion.
The tonsil is continuously stimulated by the bacteria even during non-inflammatory period of chronic tonsillitis. It is considered that the bacteria invade into the intraepithelial area and subepithelial area from the cryptical lumen through the micropore, subsequently the bacteria are phagocytized by the macrophage there and transfered into the vessel.
It is suspected that the bacterial antigen is trapped in the germinal center mainly on the route of recirculation, and takes part in the long-term antigen retaining and the stimulation of antibody production. Although the examination of culture is simple and useful method as a daily clinical examination, there is a limit on the ability of detecting the bacteria. It is important, however, that we should always refer to clinical treatment on the localization of the bacteria proved in this study.
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