Plasma cells and serum proteins in marine fish.

Abstract

Summary1) Serum proteins of 18 species of fish have been analyzed by means of starch gel zone electrophoresis. In 10 of these species, observations were also made on occurrence of plasma cells in spleens. 2) Elasmobranchs had typical plasma cells in their spleens and proteins in their serum migrating like gamma globulins upon electrophoresis. Teleosts, however, generally had very few plasma cells in their spleens and no demonstrable gamma globulin in the serum. These observations suggest that among marine fish, there may be an association between plasma cells and gamma globulins.