Study of lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood and secondary lymphoid organs in the goat using monoclonal antibodies to surface markers of bovine lymphocytes

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to surface markers of bovine lymphocytes MHC I, MHC II, B-cells, T-cells (CD2, CD4, CD8 and γδ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor were tested in the goat by flow cytometry and using immunohistochemical methods. Samples from peripheral blood and secondary lymphoid organs (mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen and ileal Peyerʹs patch) were studied. The percentage of positive cells obtained by flow cytometry and its compartmentalisation in different tissue sections showed that the mAbs against MHC I, MHC II, CD2, CD4, CD8, γδ and IL-2 receptor recognised lymphocyte subpopulations similar to those present in the bovine. However, the mAbs tested on B-cells reacted only partially in the recognition of this subpopulation.