The Effect of Immunologically Induced Lymphopenia on Antibody Formation

Abstract

The immunologic responsiveness of rats was studied following selective destruction of the lymphocyte mass by means of rabbit anti-rat lymphocyte globulin (ALG). ALG pre-treatment of rats before antigenic stimulation by sheep erythrocytes completely suppressed antibody formation. Repeated immunization of these animals well beyond the period of induced peripheral lymphocytopenia resulted in some antibody production but of only the IgM type. By contrast, administration of the soluble antigen KLH after pre-treatment with ALG caused marked enhancement of antibody production in comparison with control groups pre-treated with saline and normal rabbit globulin. Some possible mechanisms of such enhanced response were discussed.