IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN BEARING LYMPHOCYTES IN THE INDIAN FRUIT BAT: PTEROPUS GIGANTEUS
Abstract
The immunologic cell types of the Indianfruit bat, P. giganteus, were characterized onthe basis ofcell surface Ig markers. Rabbitanti-rat IgM and IgG demonstrated IgM or IgGbearing cells in the nylon wool adherentlymphocyte population, thereby suggestingtheir equivalence to the B cells ofrecentlyevolved mammals including man. Relativeproportion of these Ig+ surface bearing cellswas about one-halfofthe bone marrowlymphocytes, one-third of mesenteric lymphnode lymphocytes, and two-thirds of the splenicand peripheral blood lymphocytes. Consideringthe early origin ofMegachiropters (fruit bats)in mammalian evolution, it is suggested thatsurface characteristics of typical mammalianlymphocytes like Ig markers as such or asgenomic messages existed at the time ofevolutionof Class Mammalia. The high percentageofsurface Ig+ cells in the peripheral circulationof bats suggests a "natural immunodeficiencystate", which may be equivalent to immunodeficiencystate in humans.