THE IMMUNOLOGIC REACTIVITY OF LONG-LIVED LYMPHOCYTES IN SITU IN RAT POPLITEAL LYMPH NODES,
Abstract
The cells of the popliteal lymph nodes of rats were labeled with tritiated thymidine for 4 days after primary or secondary injections of old tuberculin (OT), or after a secondary injection of TAB vaccine. Thirty-one days after the last dose of thymidine rats of each group were challenged with one or the other of these antigens. Increased numbers of heavily labeled large lymphocytes and mitotic figures were present in the popliteal nodes for two days after challenge with TAB vaccine whether the tritiated thymidine was given following OT or TAB vaccine. No such rreaction was found after challenge with OT. The ability of labeled long-lived lymphocytes to react in situ to TAB vaccine 7 months after labeling was also demonstrated. These results confirm the validity of the method of following labeled lymphocytes for long periods of time since they show that at least some such cells retain the ability to enlarge and divide. The hypothesis that small lymphocytes are specific 'memory cells' is not supported by the findings that long-lived small lymphocytes can react to a primary stimulus. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 04, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0659027
Entities
People
- John J. Miller Iii
- Leonard J. Cole
Organizations
- Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory