[Morphofunctional characteristics of immunocompetent cells in dysplasia of the breast].

Immunocompetent cells were studied in the stroma and epithelium of 34 cases of mammary gland dysplasia. The following stainings were used for light microscopy: hematoxylin and eosin, methods of Brachet, van Gieson, Romanovsky-Giemsa, hallocyanine alums, Gomori, PAS-reaction as well as the determination of acid and alkaline phosphatases, glucose-6-phosphate and succinate dehydrogenase were used. 14 cases were studied ultrastructurally. Two types of small B lymphocytes and one type of large lymphocytes, stromal macrophages are described. Their morphofunctional characteristics is given and their properties in proliferating and non-proliferating fibroadenomatosis are shown. Interaction of intraepithelial large granular lymphocytes (normal killers) with immature epithelial cells resulting in the death of these epitheliocytes is described. The results obtained are regarded as a morphological manifestation of the immune surveillance.