Abstract
Summary
Crystalline silica particles (1-3 μ in diameter) were injected intravenously into rabbits and rats. At various intervals from 0 to 90 days the animals were immunized with ovalbumin or horse serum. Antibody production was greatly enhanced in silicatreated animals. The antibody titer was higher when the interval between silica and antigen injection was longer. Many more antibody-containing cells were observed in silica-treated animals. It is suggested that the adjuvant effect of silica is related to the proliferation of immunologically competent cells in the R.E.S. This might play a role in the pathogenesis of silicosis.
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