title: Idiotypic lymphocytes in the rabbit: occurrence and nature of idiotypic lymphocytes in normal and hyperimmunized rabbits.
abstract: Rabbits were hyperimmunized with Micrococcus Pysodeicticus, leading to homogeneous antibody responses. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were taken from the rabbits before and monthly (during 3 months) after the start of the immunization. The cells were stored frozen. Lymphocytes were tested with anti-idiotypic conjugates for the presence of surface idiotypic structures. The nature of the idiotype-positive cells was determined with respect to the presence of IgM or T-cell antigenic determinants on their surface. A sharp rise and fall in the percentage of idiotypic lymphocytes was found, ranging between 1/40,000 and 1/1,000. Initially almost all idiotypic lymphocytes were IgM-positive. In the blood taken 2 months after the start of the immunization 20% of the idiotypic cells belonged to the T-cell population and 10% were negative for both IgM and T-cell antigenic determinants.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000939:Epitopes; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007114:Immunization; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008837:Micrococcus / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007075:Immunoglobulin M