Quantitative aspects of immunoglobulin production in the intestine of mice

Most infectious agents enter the body via the mucosae. Therefore, expression of immunological activity at the mucosal surfaces is important as a first line of defence against invading pathogens. To that purpose each individual possesses a local, mucosal immune system, a special limb of the overall immune system. Although it has been known for many years that the mucosal tissues exert immunological activity, the magnitude and the developmental stage at various ages of this immunological compartment was not known. This resulted partly from a lack of suitable techniques to quantitate immunoglobulin-secreting cells (Ig-SC) and partly from the confusing data obtained with other techniques used to estimate the Ig production in mucosal tissues. Furtb,er, little was known about the induction of specific mucosal immune responses, especially with non-replicating (dead) antigens, and about ways to direct these responses. The experiments described in this thesis were performed in a mouse model.