The Effect of Environmental Temperature on the Immune Response of Mice to Tetanus Toxoid

[摘要] Mice were immunized with single doses of fluid tetanus toxoid, from 5 to 20 flocculation units, and divided in groups which were maintained for 14 days at respectively 6 C, 25 C and 35 C. Subsequently, the animals were all transferred to room temperature and challenged with 20 lethal doses of tetanus toxin. Highest immunity was shown in the mice submitted to the warmer atmospheres during immunization, the difference being most distinct with a low dose of toxoid. Variation in response to toxoid occurred among animals of different litters, and necessitated equal distribution of litter mates over the treatments.The term immunizability is proposed to describe the inherent attributes of the host which determine the intensity of the immune response. Immunizability is distinct from factors of resistance which determine intensity of reaction to infection in non-immune animals.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）