| Abstract: | Adult rats were immunized with human γ-globulin, in heat aggregated form intravenously, and with complete adjuvant intravenously or in the footpads. In all animals an intravenous booster injection was given on day 25. Splenectomy or sham splenectomy was performed 7 days prior to or 3 and 21 days after immunization, and 19S and 7S antibody activities were determined separately in the sera of these animals in the primary and the secondary response. Splenectomized young rats immunized with human γ-globulin in complete adjuvant intravenously or in the footpads were similarly studied. The formation of 19S and 7S antibody was affected separately depending upon the route of antigen administration and time of splenectomy. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of splenectomy on antibody formation was more pronounced in young than in adult rats. |
