Abstract
Summary
The effects of four immunosuppressive agents (X-ray, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide, and cortisone acetate) on localization and retention of radioactive antigen in liver and spleen were studied. All four agents interfered with antigen retention by spleen and spleen germinal centers but not with that by the liver; this damage of splenic antigen retention was more easily induced when the insult was given before the test antigen. At the dose applied (500 mg/kg) cortisone acetate did not interfere with immune elimination—a sign of early antibody production—but most severely damaged retention of antigen in spleen germinal centers. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the antigen depots in germinal centers are of functional significance for the late (particularly 7S) antibody production. Our experiments also emphasize the dual effect of immunosuppressive agents on lymphatic organs: (i) reduction of their immunologically responsive cell population, and (ii) impairment of their capacity to capture and retain antigen.
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