Primary Induction of Plaque Forming Antibody Producing Cells in Spleen Organ Culture ∗

Abstract

Summary

Primary stimulation with sheep erythrocytes of mouse spleen fragments in vitro induced plaque forming antibody producing cells. All spleens tested gave fragments that responded. The percentage of responding fragments from individual spleens varied from 47 to 87%. On the fifth day after stimulation, the numbers of plaque forming cells in stimulated cultures averaged 112 per 10⁶ cells with a range from < 1 to 1080 per 10⁶ cells. Values significantly above the controls were reached, on this day in 72% of the cultures. In addition to 19S antibody producers, evidence of induction of cells making other types of immune globulins was obtained. Free antibody was detected as agglutinins in the (tissue culture medium.