Determination of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) activity in peripheral blood leukocytes of pregnant, adult, and kitten Angora cats

This study aimed to determine the alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) activity of peripheral blood leukocytes in pregnant, kitten, and adult Angora cats. In each group 9 healthy pregnant, adult, and kitten Angora cats constituted the material of the study. Optimum reaction was achieved after a 3 h incubation period at pH 5.8, by ANAE staining. Two types of reaction were observed in ANAE (+) T lymphocytes. The first reaction was a dot-like positivity pattern characterized by the presence of large granules, while the other was a granular positivity pattern characterized by the presence of 3 to 5 small granules. B lymphocytes reacted negatively in ANAE staining. The rate of ANAE (+) lymphocytes in pregnant, kitten, and adult Angora cats was 62.89 +/- 1.29%, 68.37 +/- 1.22%, and 77.71 +/- 1.63%, respectively. In conclusion, the lowest rate of ANAE-positive lymphocytes was detected in the pregnant cats, depending on the maternal immune tolerance supported by hormonal mechanisms. An increased rate of ANAE-positive lymphocytes was detected in the kittens, and the highest rate was measured in the adults, in parallel with the development of the immune system.