A STATE OF ALIMENTARY TRACT IMMUNE SYSTEM IN RATS UNDER ANATOMICALLY CHANGED CONDITIONS

Appendix, solitary and intestinal lymph follicles, mucous lymphocytes make a cluster of gut- associated lymph tissue called GALT. Alimentary tract lymphocytes provide two basic tasks; they produce Ig A being the first defence line against pathogenic micro-organisms and regulate processes of immunologic response to antigens reaching its lumen. To recognize GALT structure and its function better, the experimental study on 21 sexually mature male rats of Wistar strain was carried out. The animals were divided into 2 study groups A and B each consisting of 7 rats and 1 control K consisting of 7 rats. The rats from one study group A had an appendectomy and the rats from the other group B had ileocolic lymph nodes removed. The rats from the control group K underwent only laparotomy. After 63 days, the respective organs were taken and the animals were sacrificed. The appendices and ileocolic lymph nodes functioning for 63 days in the anatomically changed conditions underwent macro- and microscopic examination and were compared wih the image of the control group organs. No significant morphologic differences were found. Additionally, immunohistochemical examination was carried out with specific antibodies Mous Anti Rat CD 45 RA aimed against all B lymphocytes and Mous Anti Rat CD 43 aimed against all T lymphocytes and the evaluation of the immunohistochemical reaction intensity was done with the use of a computer image analyzer. A decreased average number of B lymphocytes was found in the ileocolic lymph node parenchyma of the experiment animals; mean number of T lymphocytes was on the same level. The quantitative ration of B lymphocytes to T lymphocytes changed. Similar immunologic changes can be present in other immune system organs; therefore, it seems necessary to continue the experiments and study. Key words: GALT (gut associated lymphoid tissue), immune system, appendectomy, lymph nodes, lymphology