Cellular Antibody Synthesis in Vitamin B6-deficient Rats

Abstract

Cellular antibody synthesis was determined by the Jerne agar-plaque technique in normal and vitamin B₆-deficient rats immunized with sheep erythrocytes. A severe reduction in the number of individual antibody-forming cells was observed in spleens from immunized deficient animals. This decreased cellular immune response was independent of the inanition associated with the deficiency and was restored to normal by the administration of pyridoxine shortly before immunization. Accumulation of antigen by rat spleen did not appear to be deranged in vitamin B₆ deficiency.