Immunological Studies of Tumors

Abstract

Studies were made on the changes of spleens, lymph nodes and livers of mice related to the antibody formation in response to antigen injection; use was made of cytochemical and cytophotometric methods.The heat-killed cells of the Yoshida ascites tumor of rats mixed with Freund's adjuvant were used as antigen. The antigen showed a capacity to elicit the antibody formation in mice leading to the elevation of antibody concentration in the circulating blood.The mouse spleen after a single subcutaneous injection of the antigen material showed a marked cellular reaction in the form of an increase in number of basophilic cells in the red pulp. The basophilic cells contained a large amount of RNA: they may play a decisive role in the antibody formation and correlate with the increased value of serum agglutinin titers. The change of lymph nodes was also remarkable in that they showed increased basophilia in lymphatic cells. The change of livers was characterized by an increase in amount of nucleic acids and by the subsequent depletion of glycogen and phospholipids after the antigen injection. The livers may take some roles, primarily or secondarily, in the antibody production.