Spleen lymphocytes from rabbits immunized with live or inactivated rabies virus were exposed in vitro to rabies antigens. Blastogenesis of sensitized spleen cells was measured by incorporation of 3H thymidine into the DNA of actively proliferating cells. The maximum stimulation ratio by rabies antigens was observed 8 days after immunization and animals remained sensitized for at least 175 days. No differences were noted when either live or inactivated viruses were used for immunization or for stimulation of spleen lymphocytes. Purified rabies virions, “soluble antigens,” and glycoprotein fraction showed a stimulating effect but not the nucleocapsid fraction of rabies virions.
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