Production of different classes of immunoglobulins by individual cells in the guinea-pig

Abstract

The antibody forming cells from lymph nodes of guinea-pigs immunized with sheep red cells or dinitrophenyl bovine γ-globulin were studied by the `rosette' technique (immunocyto-adherence test).

Pretreatment of the cells with antisera against guinea-pig total γ-globulin abolished their capacity to form `rosettes'. Pretreatment with antisera specific for γ<sub>1</sub>, γ<sub>2</sub> or γM, produced an important inhibition of `rosette' formation, attaining in many cases more than 90 per cent. The sum of the percentage of inhibition obtained with anti-γ₁ and anti-γ₂ separately, added to more than 100 per cent in every case. These results are interpreted as indicating that the same cell is simultaneously synthesizing γ₁- and γ₂-globulins.

The morphological study of the antibody-forming cells revealed the presence of small and large lymphocytes, blasts and plasmocytes, and a very small proportion of macrophages.