Appendix and γM Antibody Formation. IV. Synergism of Appendix and Bone Marrow Cells in Early Antibody Response to Sheep Erythrocytes

摘要

Earlier studies have shown that the γM antibody response in rabbits injected intravenously (i.v.) with low doses of heat-aggregated bovine γ globulin is abolished by lethal whole body irradiation but preserved in animals whose appendix and bone marrow are shielded (1). Antibody-forming cells, however, were not found in the appendix itself but in that part of the mesenteric lymph node draining the appendix and in the spleen (2). We show here that the early response of rabbits to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) also requires the presence of both appendix and bone marrow cells.Materials and Methods. New Zealand albino rabbits received 2 × 109 SRBC i.v., and their spleen cells were assayed 5 days later for direct plaque-forming cells (PFC) by a modification of the technique of Jerne et al. (3). Appendectomy, whole body irradiation (900 rads, central axis dose), and shielding of femoral bone marrow (after prior excision of both popliteal lymph nodes) were carried out by techniques already described (1, 2).