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THE CELLULAR AND HUMORAL RESPONSE TO ANTIGENS IN LAMBS THYMECTOMIZED IN UTERO
Author(s) -
Cole GJ,
Morris Bede
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
australian journal of experimental biology and medical science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0004-945X
DOI - 10.1038/icb.1971.5
Subject(s) - biology , spleen , antigen , immune system , antibody , basophilic , immunology , virus , lymph node , salmonella , virology , antibody response , microbiology and biotechnology , andrology , medicine , pathology , bacteria , genetics
Summary The responses of in utero thymectomized lambs to three different antigens, swine influenza virus (strain Shope 15), boiled Salmonella muenchen organisms and chicken red blood cells, have been studied in terms of the cellular and antibody responses in lymph coming from the popliteal node. It was found that, although thymectomized lambs had a greatly reduced total cell output from the popliteal node, the significant features of the immune response in these animals were unaffected. There were no significant differences between thymectomized and control lambs in terms of the production of large cells or basophilic cells, neither were there any differences in the number of plaque‐forming cells leaving the node, in total antibody production in lymph or sera, nor any qualitative differences in the type of antibody produced. The response of thymectomized or splenectomized lambs, or lambs with both thymus and spleen removed, to the intravenous injection of S. muenchen organisms was also studied. The type and the quantity of antibody produced in the circulating blood of these animals was no different from normal control lambs. It was concluded from these results that, in the lamb, neither the spleen nor the thymus is essential for the development of an adequate cellular or Immoral response to swine influenza virus, to Salmonella muenchen organisms or to chicken red cells.