Effect of Age upon Primary Alloantigen Recognition by Mouse Spleen Cells

Abstract

The response of spleen cells from three mouse strains, C57BL/6 CBA and A/J, to alloantigenic stimulation in mixed cell cultures was studied throughout the first year of life. The degree of stimulation by alloantigen of spleen cells from each of the strains and the stimulation pattern in relation to the age of the animal were both variable. Spleen cells from the three strains had no reactivity to alloantigen at birth. Following a period of 1 to 4 weeks, the reactivity increased rapidly. Peak values for all strains occurred between 14 and 20 weeks of age. In the C57BL/6 and CBA mice the responsiveness of the spleen cells to alloantigen declined markedly and was minimal at a year of age. However, in the A/J mice the reactivity appeared to remain at near peak levels throughout the first year of life.