Proliferation by Bone Marrow-Derived Lymphocytes in Response to Antigenic Stimulation in Vitro

Abstract

The extent of tritiated thymidine (³H-THY) incorporation into bone marrow derived cells (B cells) in cultures of sensitized guinea pig lymph node cells was determined by the simultaneous identification by radioautography of grained cells and cells bearing the receptor for antigen antibody complement complexes found on B cells. By this criterion 14.2 to 27.3% of the cells incorporating ³H-THY in these cultures are B cells whether or not antigen was present. Furthermore, in the cultures to which antigen was added there is an increase in the per cent of proliferating B cells.