Abstract
The injection of killed cells ofBordetella pertussis produces regularly a significant increase in spleen weight. Autoradiographs of young adult mice given a single injection of3H-thymidine 1 hr before sacrifice indicate that, in the untreated animal spleen cells synthesize DNA at a low rate. As compared to mice given a single injection of a soluble protein antigen (BSA), the labelling indexes in the spleens (lymphoblasts, reticular cells, lymphocytes and plasma cells) were found to be significantly increased, when killed pertussis organisms were given together with the protein antigen. Similar findings were obtained in mice solely treated by a single injection of theB. pertussis vaccine. From these findings it is concluded, that pertussis-induced splenomegaly is in part due to the increased proliferation of spleen cells.
Published Version
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