The reactivity of rat lymph node macrophages and reticulum cells has been studied in relation to the course of the immune response. Special attention was paid to the interdigitating cells (IDC) in the paracortex and the dendritic reticulum cells (DRC) in the germinal centre. Different types of macrophage predominate in the three different phases of the immune response. In the induction phase exudate macrophages predominate. They transform their morphology depending on the micro-environment in which they settle. These cells may contain Birbeck granules. Our experiments suggest, that these granules are immunologically specific organelles, associated with the induction of a primary humoral response.