Local and Systemic Immune Response of Mice after Intratracheal and Intravenous Inoculations of Sheep Erythrocytes

Abstract

The plaque-forming cell (pfc) response in the mediastinal and cervical lymph nodes, the spleen, the lung and the blood was measured after either intratracheal or intravenous inoculations of sheep erythrocytes (SRBC). A typical primary and secondary response can be induced in the lung, its draining lymph nodes and the spleen after intratracheal inoculations. This response in the lymph nodes and lungs appears to be initiated locally and can be boosted by an intravenous inoculation. Intravenous inoculation produces pfc closely associated with the lung but apparently related to the pfc in the blood. The response in the lymph nodes after systemic immunization appeared independent of circulating pfc. A primary intravenous inoculation of SRBC moderated the response in the lymph nodes and lung to an intratracheal inoculation.