DEPRESSION OF PLAQUE-FORMING CELLS TO SHEEP RED BLOOD-CELLS BY NEWBORN LARVAE OF TRICHINELLA-SPIRALIS

Abstract

The number of plaque-forming cells (PFC) per spleen is reduced in mice experimentally infected with 200 Trichinella larvae at 14 and 28 days after infection; no difference is shown at days 7 and 56. The worms of the 3 different phases of the life cycle of Trichinella were isolated and kept alive in vitro at 37.degree. in the inner compartment of a Marbrook chamber. The outer compartment of the chamber contained normal spleen cells and sheep erythrocytes. After 4 days, the spleen cells were removed and assayed for PFC. The new-born larvae are apparently capable of producing substances which can diffuse through a Millipore filter and affect the spleen cells forming antibody to sheep erythrocytes. The suppression of antibody to sheep red blood cells in mice infected with Trichinella is a transitory phenomenon and can be related to the migrating phase of the life cycle of the parasite.