Concomitant synthesis, in separate cells, of non-reactive immunoglobulins and specific antibodies after immunization with tobacco mosaic virus.

Abstract

Injection of tobacco mosaic virus into rabbits induces the concomitant synthesis of specific antibodies and of non-reactive immunoglobulins. Labelling experiments show that the amount of non-specific immunoglobulins produced for a given amount of antibodies is much greater after a first stimulation than after a booster injection. Immunofluorescence studies on the spleen of animals before and after immunization clearly indicate that the increase in concentration of non-specific immunoglobulins observed in the serum is correlated with a significant increase in the number of cells secreting non-reactive immunoglobulins simultaneously with the appearance of antibody producing cells. Finally cell counts and in vivo and in vitro synthesis by spleen fragments of specific antibodies and non-reactive immunoglobulins provide a strong argument in favour of a synthesis of non-reactive immunoglobulins and antibodies in different plasma cells. The possible significance of the induced synthesis of non-specific immunoglobulins after antigenic stimulation are discussed.