Antibody Formation by Isolated Cells of Hen Spleen after mixing with Antigen in vitro and Transfer to Chicks

RECENTLY, Šterzl1used newborn animals as recipients for the transfer of tissues producing antibodies as infant animals cannot produce antibodies after administration of antigens during the early postnatal period2. This experimental model has been used successfully by Mitchison3, who evoked antibody production in chicks after transfer of spleen tissue from strongly immunized hens. Dixon and Weigle4, however, were unable to demonstrate the usefulness of infant animals for the demonstration of antibody formation after transfer of tissues from animals immunized 24 hr. previously. In further work, when cells mixed with antigen in vitro were transferred, results were again negative5. In the work reported here, the possibility of using infant animals soon after birth as recipients was tested.