| Abstract: | Water-in-oil emulsion (WOE) of the Freund's type and a bacterial endotoxin (ET) enhanced the antibody response of mice to bovine γ-globulin (BGG) in a different manner. WOE even without the antigen revealed an adjuvant action when given prior to or simultaneously with the antigen, while ET was effectual when given simultaneously with or after the antigen. Thus, the concurrent administration of these two adjuvants either before or after the antigen secured enhancement. It was shown that ET facilitated IgM antibody formation. WOE including antigen (BGG-WOE) was found to form an ‘antigen-depot’ at the injected site. Antigen released bit by bit from this depot thus might supply a continuous stimulus for the antibody response. This was mimicked by a divided daily injection of a small amount of antigen without adjuvants. Surgical removal of the hind foot containing the depot resulted in reduction of the circulating antibody. The popliteal lymph node cells from mice given BGG-WOE via hind foot pads could adoptively immunize X-irradiated recipients without the additional administration of antigen, axillary lymph node cells and spleen cells being unable to do so. ET was inadequate for this purpose. The morphological changes of the nodes seemed compatible with these results. |
