[Structural and functional interrelations of immunocompetent cells in the mammary gland of lactating rats and in the small intestine of newborn rats during suckling period].

The interrelation of quantitative changes of immunocompetent cells (ICC) in the mammary gland of lactating rats and in the small intestine of neonatal rats in their suckling period was studied. The dynamics of the ratio of ICC in the mammary gland of females and in the small intestine of the offspring in the early postnatal period was examined. Maximal numbers of ICC in the mammary gland was detected on day 3 of lactation, the subsequent reduction of their number was accompanied by an increase of the number if intestinal ICC in the offspring, which further progressed with a transition of pups to mixed nutrition. The detected dynamics of ICC content in the mammary gland of female and in the small intestine of the offspring is indicative of a significance of a mammary gland in the maintenance of immune homeostasis of the small intestine of the offspring in the early postnatal development. This role of the mammary gland is reduced with the development of the immune apparatus of the small intestine.