Studies on the immunity of sheep to Oesophagostomum columbianum: The nature and fate of the globule leucocyte.

Abstract

The histological, histochemical, and cytological relationships between the globule leucocyte, plasma cell, and Russell body cell were studied and it was concluded that they belonged to the same cell lineage.

The histochemistry of the globules was studied. They were found to be made up of mucoprotein, which was shown to be a y-globulin. The presence of this substance is discussed in relation to the development of immunity to O. columbianum. A correlation was shown between the duration of infestation and multiple infestations, and the occurrence and numbers of the globule leucocyte.

A relationship was demonstrated between the numbers of plasma cells, and globule leucocytes in the gut.

The relationship between the distributions of larval lesions, adult worms, and globule leucocytes is discussed. It is concluded that globule leucocytes in a region are an indication that a strong immunological response has occurred, since their numbers were related to the numbers of larval lesions and particularly to the numbers of adult worms present in the gut.

It is suggested that the presence of large numbers of globule leucocytes is an abnormal reaction by the host and indicates persistent antigenic stimulation or chronic stressing of the lymphoid tissue within the gut. This postulate is discussed in relation to the electrophoretic protein pattern of the serum and tissue proteins, the histochemistry of the plasma cell series of lymphoid cells, and the antibody levels in the serum and tissues.