Antibody production to lipopolysaccharide in thymectomized <i>Xenopus</i>

Abstract

Xenopus toadlets, some of which had been thymectomized as larvae, were immunized with E. coli lipopolysaccharide. Antibody titers were similar in thymectomized and intact toadlets. Antibody was exclusively IgM. The results suggest that a division into thymus-dependent and thymus-independent anti-body responses extends at least as far back in phylogeny as the amphibians.