title: Germinal centres and the B cell system. IV. Functional characteristics of rabbit appendix germinal centre (-derived) cells.
abstract: Functional capacities of rabbit appendix germinal centre cells were tested in appendectomized, 450 rads X-irradiated rabbits, reconstituted with autologous appendix germinal centre cells, which are obtained by mechanical separation--"stripping"--of the appendix. For comparison, functional capacities of appendix germinal centre derived cells were tested in rabbits, 450 rads X-irradiated with the appendix shielded. In both types of experimental systems, slow restoration of primary IgM responsiveness to Salmonella Java paratyphi-B (PAR) was observed; in contrast, the capacity for memory cell production (of both mu and gamma-type) to PAR was restored very early in both systems. These results suggest germinal centres to be antigen dependent microenvironments for selective as well as non-selective amplification of immature B cells, which after subsequent maturation become part of the pool of either memory or virgin mature B cells respectively.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001062:Appendectomy; D001065:Appendix / Q000166:cytology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011817:Rabbits; D012484:Salmonella paratyphi B
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M