Germinal centres and the origin of the B-cell system: II. Germinal centres in the rabbit spleen and popliteal lymph nodes

In the preceding paper a population of lymphoid cells was identified which (1) were derived from germinal centres in the appendix, (2) were localized in follicular structures elsewhere, and (3) could perform as antibody-forming cell precursors.

The present paper presents evidence (1) that germinal centres in the spleen and lymph nodes perform the same function as germinal centres in the appendix, and (2) that germinal centres are dependent upon a stream of cells derived from the bone marrow.

A new hypothesis is put forward regarding the origin and cellular kinetics of the B-cell system in mammals. It is proposed that germinal centres throughout the body function as an essentially antigen-dependent amplification system for the B-cell population of lymphocytes. Implications of this hypothesis are discussed.