INFLUENCE OF SPLENECTOMY IN RATS ON FORMATION OF 19S AND 7S ANTIBODIES

  • 1 January 1967
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 12  (5) , 505-+
Abstract
Adult rats were immunized with human gamma-globulin, in heat aggregated form intravenously, and with complete adjuvant intravenously or in the footpads. In all animals an intravenous booster injection was given on day 25. Splenectomy or sham splenectomy was performed 7 days prior to or 3 and 21 days after immunizations, and 19S and 7S antibody activities wer determined separately in the sera of these animals in the primary and the secondary response. Splenectomized yound rats immunized with human gamma-globulin in complete adjuvant intravenously or in the footpads were similarly studied. The formation of 19S and 7S antibody was affected separately depending upon the route of antigen administration and time of splenectomy. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of splenectomy on antibody formation was more pronounced in young than in adult rats.