Antibody Formation and the Effect of X-Radiation on Circulating Antibody Levels in the Hypophysectomized Rat

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Abstract
Summary: Qualitative data on the effect of hypophysectomy and X-irradiation on anti-sheep erythrocyte hemolysin titers of rat sera have been presented. Hypophysectomy did not alter the antisheep erythrocyte hemolysin titers of rat sera when animals were injected with antigen 12, 24 and 72 hours, or 6, 15, 24, 42 or 60 days after hypophysectomy. Hypophysectomized rats exposed to a single dose of total body X-radiation of 500 r (41 or 59 days after hypophysectomy) showed a marked inhibition of antibody formation when injected with an intravenous injection of a 0.25% suspension of washed sheep erythrocytes 24 hours after X-ray exposure while animals exposed to the same radiation dose with the spleens shielded by lead were capable of producing antibodies as indicated by the rise in hemolysin titers. The role of the pituitary-adrenal system on antibody formation and release is discussed. It is concluded that in the rat the pituitary is not necessary for the production of anti-sheep hemolysins observed under the conditions of the experiments reported here.