FLOW CYTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF GOAT MILK LYMPHOCYTES - SUBPOPULATIONS AND ADHESION MOLECULE EXPRESSION

Cytometric analysis of cells in milk from healthy goats was achieved a fter elimination of interfering signals from debris and dead cells by irreversible staining with ethidium monoazide. Some 61% of milk lympho cytes are CD8(+) T cells, 17% are CD4(+) and about 20% of these expres s class II antigens; less than 4% are B cells, Compared with blood, th e CD4/CD8 ratio was inverted and fewer lymphocytes expressed CD45R or L-selectin, Monoclonal antibodies to ovine integrins recognised the ca prine alpha 4 chain on most lymphocytes from milk or blood, while beta 1 was more frequent on milk cells.