Roles of the Liver and Appendix in the Serum Hemolysin Response in Rabbits

[摘要] The roles of the liver and appendix in the serum hemolysin response in rabbits immunized with one or more injections of sheep erythrocyte stromata were studied. The effects of extirpation of these organs were observed both in the presence and absence of the spleen. Antibody titers were determined photometrically in 50% hemolysin units, and the serum hemolysin response was analyzed with respect to the lengths of the latent period and rise to peak titer, day and magnitude of peak titer, and rates of hemolysin rise and decline.Using this approach, no antibody contribution by the appendix or liver to the serum hemolysin response was detected. These organs apparently were inactive even after repeated injections of antigen which overrode the depressive effect of splenectomy by inducing increased nonsplenic activity.Changes in the hemolysin response observed following immunization via the portal vein and in partially hepatectomized animals injected via the ear vein could be attributed to the liver's capacity to remove significant amounts of antigen from the circulation. Increased disappearance rates of passively transferred hemolytic antiserum in partially hepatectomized and liver-irradiated rabbits suggest that the regenerating or recovering liver catabolizes antibody faster.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）