Precipitin Production in Chickens

Abstract

Summary An attempt has been made to identify the cell types involved in antibody production. Histological and nucleic acid determinations were made upon the spleen and serological determinations upon the serum of chickens injected intravenously with crystalline beef serum albumin. The following results were obtained in the spleen following injection of antigen: The wet and dry spleen weights increased to maximums on the 3rd day. The hemoglobin concentration was not increased on the 3rd day. The concentration of DNA decreased to a minimum on the 2nd day. The concentration of PNA increased to a maximum on the 3rd day. The total amount of DNA per spleen increased to a maximum on the 3rd day. The total amount of PNA per spleen increased to a maximum on the 4th day. The numbers of reticular cells, prolymphocytes, and lymphocytes decreased to minimums on the 4th, 2nd, and 3rd days respectively. The numbers of blast cells and proplasmacytes increased to maximums on the 3rd day, and the number of plasmacytes increased to a maximum on the 4th day. Antibody first appeared on the 4th day and reached its peak on the 8th day. The changes in the cell population of the spleen were reflected in peripheral blood smears. Unusual pycnotic and highly vacuolated plasmacytic cells appeared in both the spleen and the peripheral blood smears. The sequence of changes in spleen weight, DNA and PNA concentrations and contents, plasma cell proliferation, and serum antibody concentration strongly suggest that the cells of the plasmacytic series are involved in the synthesis of antibody protein.