Figure 3.

17-beta estradiol and/or progesterone treatment of ovariectomized B6 mice increases adhesiveness of LN and PP HEV and uterine tissues (A) but not pancreatic tissues (B). Assays were conducted using unlabeled human PBL indicator cells, mouse TK-1 lymphoma cells, or human PBL pre-labeled with anti-CD56 mAb (NKG1, Coulter Immunology, diluted 1:100) followed by rabbit anti-mouse Ig-rhodamine isothiocynate (RITC) Ab as indicator cells. Aliquots of cells were incubated with function blocking antibodies to either human L-selectin (DREG-56) or mouse α₄β₇ integrin (DATK-32). Cryostat sections were prepared from tissues collected from virgin mice (V), pregnant mice (gd 6), Ovx mice, or Ovx mice treated with 17-β estradiol at 100ng/day (E2), progesterone (1 mg/day, P4), combined steroids (E2/P4), or combined steroids plus induction of deciduoma (E2/P4+deciduoma). Non-fluorescent adherent cells were scored by bright-field microscopic examination and CD56-pre-labeled cells were scored by fluorescence microscopy (high power fields; HPF). Data are the mean ± SD and are representative of results from multiple experiments (n>5).

† Indicates significant difference from the virgin or oil placebo treatment groups (p<0.05, Student’s t test)

*Function-blocking mAb specific for L-selectin (DREG-56) or α₄β₇ integrin (DATK-32) significantly reduced adhesion compared with untreated controls (p<0.001 using Student’s t test).