Values of B and T cells and their subpopulations in peripheral blood of rabbits

Abstract

Determining the reference values for B and T lymphocytes and their subpopulations in rabbits used in Poland for economic and laboratory purposes is not very common. The goal of this study was to evaluate values of chosen B and T cells and their subpopulations in Polish mixed-breed rabbits, taking season of the year and sex of the animals into the consideration. The study was performed with the use of flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies (mouse anti-rabbit). The study revealed that, both in Polish mixed-breed rabbits and in Polish mixed-breed rabbits with an addition of blood of meat breeds, the season of the year and sex of the animals affectthe percentage of B- and T-cells and their subpopulations in peripheral blood. As far as season of the year is concerned, it was shown that it mainly affects CD5+ T cells in mixed-breed rabbits and CD25+ T cells in mixed-breed rabbits with an addition of blood of meat breed, while taking sex of the animals into account, more changes were recorded in females in both groups of rabbits. Due to the fact that this is the first paper on those values in Polish rabbits conducted on a large amount of animals, the values may be treated as reference.

Keywords

• rabbit
• B and T lymphocytes
• reference values