Effect of serum on mouse granulated metrial gland cell cytotoxicity

METHOD OF STUDY: Chromium-release assays using mouse metrial gland cell sus pensions targeted against Wehi 164 fibrosarcoma cells were used. Modulation of cellular cytotoxicity was investigated using an antibody, anti-asialo-G M1, to attempt depletion of effector cells and sera to determine if inhibit ory factors are present in blood in vivo. RESULTS: No reduction in cellular cytotoxicity was found following treatmen t of effector cells with asialo-GM1 antibody, but there was a reduction fol lowing treatment with asialo-GM1 antibody plus guinea pig serum and with gu inea pig serum alone. Sera from pregnant, male, and SCID mice also reduced the level of cytotoxicity by metrial gland cell suspensions. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in cytotoxicity in the presence of serum indicat es that there are factors in the blood which are inhibitory to granulated m etrial gland cell cytotoxic activity in vivo. The resistance of mouse metri al gland cells to asialo-GM1 antibody depletion is supportive of a natural cytotoxic (NC) lineage for this cell type.