INTRACELLULAR LOCALIZATION AND QUANTITATION OF TRITIATED ANTIGENS IN RETICULOENDOTHELIAL TISSUES OF MICE DURING SECONDARY AND HYPERIMMUNE RESPONSES

Abstract

Autoradiography and quantitative radiochemical techniques have been used to determine intracellular localization of tritium and the quantity of tissue-bound tritium, respectively, following injections of H³-aniline azo PGG or H³-arsanilazo PGG to yield hyperimmune or secondary response stimulation in mice. Autoradiography revealed intracytoplasmic localization of grains in macrophages of spleen and lung sections, and in Kupffer cells of liver sections following intravenous and subcutaneous injections of H³-aniline azo PGG. Quantitation of tissue section surface radioactivities in the windowless flow counter and scintillation counter, and of dissolved tissue section activities in the scintillation counter, showed that greatest radioactivity was present in lung tissue, with less in spleen, liver, and mesenteric lymph nodes from these hyperimmunized mice.