THE PRODUCTION OF IMMUNO-CONGLUTININ: VIII. THE EFFECT OF 6-MERCAPTOPURINE AND COLCHICINE

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Abstract
The administration of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) to rabbits in dosages of 6 or 12 mg per kg per day resulted in complete blocking of the immuno-conglutinin and antibody responses provided the injections were continued for 5 days after the last inoculation of antigen. However, if the administration of 6-MP was discontinued 1 day after the last antigen injection, the immune mechanism escaped from this inhibition and both antibody and immuno-conglutinin were produced. Rabbits injected with the 12 mg dosage level took longer to overcome the inhibition of the immune response and showed weaker responses than rabbits injected with the 6 mg dosage level. Immuno-conglutinin production by heterostimulation and by autostimulation showed a similar pattern to treatment with 6-MP but the immuno-conglutinin response to autostimulation was quantitatively weaker.Rabbits injected with colchicine gave a slightly higher immuno-conglutinin response in heterostimulation experiments but a somewhat lower response in autostimulation experiments when compared with animals not receiving the drug.