The Mechanism of Antibody Formation After Extirpation of the Antigen-Depot

[摘要] Several investigators (1, 2, 3) have questioned the assumption that antigen must reach the tissues usually considered as the principal sources of antibody in order that formation of antibody may occur. Their doubts are based on experiments in which antigen was injected into the skin of the ear in rabbits, and, at varying intervals of time, usually from a few seconds to an hour or more, the antigen-depot was extirpated by amputation of the ear at the base. The abundant formation of antibody in animals so treated suggested to these observers that dissemination of antigen may be unnecessary for the formation of antibody. Reitler, in particular, concluded that antibody formation is a reflex-like process of non-nervous origin in which contact of the antigen with the antibody-forming tissues is not essential. Such an opinion obviously differs radically from the conventional ideas concerning antibody production and should be accepted only if accompanied by irrefutable proof.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）