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Immunolocalization of MHC-II⁺ cells in the ovary of immature, young laying and old laying hens Gallus domesticus

The aim of this study was to localize major histocompatibility complex class II positive (MHC-II⁺) cells in the hen ovary, and to determine the effects of ageing and sex steroids on their frequency. Cryostat sections of ovarian tissues of immature, young laying and old laying hens and those of immature hens treated with or without diethylstilboestrol or progesterone were prepared. Sections were immunostained for MHC class II antigens using mouse anti-chicken MHC class II monoclonal antibody and observed under a light microscope. Positive cells were counted using a computer-assisted image analyser. MHC-II⁺ cells were localized in the ovarian stroma and theca layer of primary follicles in all birds examined. The frequency of MHC-II⁺ cells in the stroma and theca of primary follicles (approximately 400–600 µm in diameter) was significantly greater in young laying hens than it was in immature and old laying hens (P < 0.01). In the stroma and the theca of primary follicles of diethylstilboestrol-treated birds, the frequency of MHC-II⁺ cells was significantly greater than it was in the stroma and theca of control and progesterone-treated birds (P < 0.01). Progesterone had no significant effect when compared with controls. These results indicate that both the ovarian stroma and theca of follicles in the hen ovary contain MHC-II⁺ cells, the frequency of MHC-II⁺ cells increases in association with sexual maturation and decreases thereafter during ageing, and oestrogen may be one of the factors enhancing the induction of MHC-II⁺ cells in the ovary.