Histologic Evidence for the Synthesis of Protein in Lymphocytes Following Parenteral Injection of Antigen

Abstract

Summary

The identification of the cell within lymphatic tissue which produces antibody has been approached by the application of a new histochemical technic for localization of cytoplasmic ribonucleic acid. The latter has been found to be an invariable concomitant to the formation of new protein in tissue. In lymph nodes actively engaged in the production of antibodies a wide range of lymphocytes, largely younger forms, was found to have cytoplasmic granules and nucleoli stained with pyronine, which is used to identify ribonucleic acid. Such granules and nucleoli were found also in transitional forms between reticulum cells and lymphocytes, but in no other cell types.