Immunoglobulin containing cells in the tracheobronchial tree of cattle: relationship to age.

The cells of the pulmonary immune system of cattle were examined using an immunoperoxidase technique to identify cytoplasmic immunoglobulins. Cells reacting immunohistochemically with bovine IgG1, IgG2, IgA and IgM antisera were quantified in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissues from systematically selected sites within the tracheobronchial tree. Non-pneumonic lungs were selected for study from five groups of cattle which ranged in age from neonatal calves to aged adult cattle. Age associated differences were found. Neonatal calves lacked immunoglobulin containing cells (ICC). The numbers of ICC in 18-month-old cattle were significantly greater than in other age groups. The relative frequency of each immunoglobulin class among the cells of the airway mucosa was IgA greater than IgG1 greater than IgG2 greater than IgM for all cattle four months and older (n = 20) with an IgA to IgG1 ratio of 3.46. All airway categories from trachea to bronchiole had similar proportions of cells in each immunoglobulin class although the cell density declined in the distal airways.