The gut-associated lymphoid tissues of the northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus)

The gut associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) of a juvenile bandicoot has been examined using histological and immunohistochemical techniques. The mesenteric lymph nodes were hyperfollicular and had well defined paracortical and medullary areas. Lymphocytes were densely packed throughout the cortex and paracortex and the mantles of the follicles. The GALT contained two distinct areas of tissue organisation. One consisted of large areas of aggregated follicles, whilst the other consisted of more linearly distributed follicles. The distribution of T and B cells in the tissue beds was documented using antibodies to surface markers CD3, CD5 and CD79b. T-cells were present in high numbers in the cortical region of the lymph node, whilst B-cells were predominant in the mantle of the follicles. Dispersed CD3 positive T-cells were abundant in the villi lacteals and present in high numbers in follicular areas of gut. CD79b positive B-cells were not observed in the lacteals but were abundant in the mantles of follicles. This is similar to that observed in other metatherians.