Differentiation of uterine natural killer cells in pregnant SCID (scid/scid) mice

To determine whether functional T- and B-cells can affect differentiation and/or proliferation of uterine natural killer (uNK) cells, their numbers in SCID mice (genotype, C.B.-17/Icr-scid/scid) were compared with those of control mice (genotype, C.B.-17/Icr-+/+) on days 8, 12 and 16 of pregnancy. Using biotinylated-Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) lectin staining, uNK cells can be readily classified into 4 subtypes, I to IV, from immature to mature types. The number of uNK cells was significantly lower in the decidua basalis of SCID mice than in that of control mice on day 8 of pregnancy. Particularly, the number of uNK cells of immature subtype II was significantly lower in SCID mice than in the control mice. By day 12, however, the uNK cell number in the SCID mice reached the same level as that of the control mice. It is likely that uNK cell differentiation in SCID mice was delayed during the early placentation period due to a lack of functional T and B cells.