Antibody Production by Guinea Pig Cells Demonstrated by the Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis Reaction

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Abstract
Summary: The passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction has been used to detect antibody produced by 1 to 5 million cells removed from donor guinea pigs following single primary intravenous injections of antigen and implanted intracutaneously into recipient guinea pigs. When cells were removed within the first week following immunization the time required for sensitization of skin sites varied from 12 hr to 3 days. This time interval was short when cells were transferred 7 days after immunization, and was longer as cell transfer was carried out sooner after immunization. The disappearance of antibody synthesis several days after transfer may be a functional manifestation of the homotransplant reaction. Suspensions of spleen cells were consistently effective, and thymus cells occasionally effective in sensitizing skin sites in recipients. Cell suspensions of lymph node, bone marrow, circulating leukocytes and liver did not appear to produce sufficient antibody to sensitize skin sites in recipients under these conditions. Hydrocortisone, administered to recipients in doses of 10 or 25 mg per day for up to 6 days had no measurable effect on the ability of transferred cells to evoke passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reactions.