Germinal centres and the B cell system

Abstract

Functional capacities of rabbit appendix germinal centre cells were tested in appendectomized, 450 rads X-irradiated rabbits, reconstituted with autologous appendix germinal centre cells, which are obtained by mechanical separation - “stripping” - of the appendix. For comparison, functional capacities of appendix germinal centre derived cells were tested in rabbits, 450 rads X-irradiated with the appendix shielded. In both types of experimental systems, slow restoration of primary IgM responsiveness to Salmonella Java paratyphi-B (PAR) was observed ; in contrast, the capacity for memory cell production (of both μ and γ-type) to PAR was restored very early in both systems. These results suggest germinal centres to be antigen dependent microenvironments for selective as well as non-selective amplification ofimmature B cells, which after subsequent maturation become part of the pool of either memory or virgin mature B cells respectively.