Role of the Appendix in Development of Immunologic Capacity.

Abstract

Rabbits thymectomized and appendectomized at birth, and challenged with bovine gamma globulin at 7-9 weeks of age, produce much lower titers of antibody than sham-operated animals. The titers of this group were also significantly lower than those of rabbits subjected to thymectomy alone, appendectomy alone, or combined thymectomy and splenectomy. The suppression of antibody-producing capacity in the thymecto-mized-appendectomized animals was paralleled by lack of lymphoid tissue development and by low levels of circulating lymphocytes through the period of study.