Germinal center in rat lymphatic tissues after the administration of L-asparaginase.

Abstract

During the few last years the immune reaction of the germinal center to an antigen and/or immuno-depressive drug was extensively studied. The present experiment was designed to investigate the immune reaction of the germinal center induced by the enzymatic drug L-asparaginase. This compound can: 1st, depress lymphocyte blastogenesis (1), and, consequently, all the reactions connected with cell-immunity (2). This depression of lymphocyte blastogenesis is caused by quantities of L-asparaginase sufficient to deplete the exogenous L-asparagine, which is the specific substrate for L-asparaginase. 2nd, depress the antibody production, i.e., the humoral-immunity (3–5). Since the inhibition of antibody production occurs only after administration of large doses of L-asparaginase, this effect is probably not mediated by specific L-asparaginase activity. On the other hand, the administration of intermediate doses of that enzymatic compound induces the formation of specific anti-asparaginase antibodies (6,7).