Harold R. Wolfe

The cytochemical morphology of the production of antibody

Abstract The synthesis of some serum globulins appears to be the principal anabolic process of the plasma cells. If so, the syntheses of pentose nucleic acids and lipids must be quantitatively important subsidiary processes since the cytoplasmic structures associated with protein synthesis contain high concentrations of pentose nucleic acid and lipid [26]. Our observations suggest that the synthesis of complex carbohydrate may also be a quantitatively important subsidiary process with a function in the synthesis of at least some proteins. The essential basis for this suggestion is (1) the pronounced occurrence of periodic acid-Schiff positive material throughout the cytoplasm of young plasma cells, (2) its apparent progressive segregation from the nucleoprotein of the cytoplasm, and (3) its pronounced retention in Russell Bodies beyond the times of peak plasma cell proliferation and maximum antibody release [28]. In qualification of this suggestion it should be noted that (1) the positive material is only known to contain aldehyde groups after oxidation with periodic acid and that its identification as carbohydrate has not been demonstrated directly, (2) the equivalence of the positive material of different stages has not been demonstrated, (3) there is no apparent means of directly and readily distinguishing the late and presumably degenerative stages of the plasma cell from phagocytes, and (4) while the presence of a high concentration of pentose nucleic acid is indicative of an intensive synthesis of protein, high concentrations of intracellular lipid and carbohydrate are not evidence in themselves of intensive protein synthesis.

Specificity of Anamnestic Response in Chickens.

Summary 1) The effects of secondary injections of various soluble protein antigens, subsequent to disappearance from the circulating system of antibodies to a primary antigen, are described. 2) Secondary antigen injections do not elicit antibody responses to previously injected antigens, if the antigens are unrelated. 3) Quantitative levels of antibody response to secondary antigens are apparently unaffected by previous antigenic stimulations of the animal, if the antigens are unrelated.

Effect of corticosterone on the skin homograft reaction and on precipitin and hemagglutinin production in thymectomised and bursectomized chickens

Summary 1.Neonatally thymectomized and/or bursectomized chicks treated daily with corticosterone were studied in terms of their abilities in producing precipitins and natural hemagglutinins and in rejecting skin homografts. 2.Corticosterone treatment maintained a high percentage of homografts in the thymectomized, bursectomized as well as intact groups. This treatment, however, did not appreciably affect circulating antibody production. 3.It was suggested that corticosterone may be acting either through the thymus and/or through its activity as an anti-inflammatory agent in maintaining skin homografts.

Effect of thymectomy and bursectomy on precipitin and natural hemagglutinin production in the chicken

1. Thymectomy of chickens during the first 3 days of age does not consistently affect precipitin production to bovine serum albumin when challenged at 6 to 9 weeks of age. In some cases, thymectomized groups did not differ in mean peak titer from controls; in some cases the response was significantly lower; in one case the response was significantly higher. This variation was not evident for the time necessary to clear antigen from the circulation. 2. Of intact and sham control birds 100% responded by producing precipitins, whereas 6% of the thymectomized birds did not give a detectable response. This frequency of negative responders was statistically significant. 3. There was a tendency for groups with greater amounts of residual thymic tissue to give higher mean precipitin titers. However, the titers of birds with no residual thymus fell in a range very similar to that of the controls. 4. The development of natural hemagglutinins was not affected by thymectomy. 5. Splenectomy performed from 2 to 10 days of age significantly delayed the appearance of precipitins but did not affect the mean peak titer. 6. Bursectomy at 1 to 2 days of age reduced the mean peak precipitin titers and the natural hemagglutinin titers drastically. Most birds did not give a detectable response.