Distribution of Antibody Plaque Forming Cells in Various Tissues of Several Strains of Mice Injected with Sheep Erythrocytes.

Abstract

Summary Lymphoid cell suspensions from several strains of mice injected with a single inoculum of sheep erythrocytes were capable of forming localized zones of hemolysis (“antibody plaques”) in agar containing sheep erythrocytes and complement. The ability of lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissue from immunized NIH, C₃H, C₅₇, and AKR mice to form antibody plaques in agar were compared. Optimum time for plaque formation with the strains tested was 4 to 5 days following intravenous immunization. Cells from NIH mice resulted in the most consistent and highest levels of plaque formation. C₃H and C₅₇ mice yielded lymphoid cells which were less than half as efficient in plaque forming ability as compared to NIH cells. Lymphoid cell from AKR mice had the least plaque forming capability. Spleen cell suspensions formed the largest number of plaques following I.V. injection. Lymph node cell suspensions were somewhat less efficient. Suspensions of peripheral leukocytes (obtained from “buffy coats”) had low, but significant antibody plaque forming ability. Thymus and bone marrow cells had no significant plaque forming ability. Cell suspensions prepared from lungs, kidney, liver, brain, and skeletal muscle exhibited either low levels of plaque formation or were negative.