Changes in lymphocytes during antibody production

Abstract

DURING the course of an investigation1 into the function and life-cycle of lymphocytes, a number of physical techniques were employed to determine the identity of cells isolated from various sources, for example, lymph glands, thoracic duct, thymus, spleen, blood, etc. The average cytoplasmic refractive index of small lymphocytes obtained from the above sites had been determined with a fair degree of certainty. It was noted that in chronically infected rats (rat pneumonia) the small lymphocytes, whatever their source, showed a significantly raised cytoplasmic refractive index. The subcutaneous injection of a particulate antigen (T.A.B.) produced a similar rise preceding but paralleling the rise in the antibody titre of the serum and thoracic duct lymph. We suggest that the refractive index change in the cytoplasm of the small lymphocyte is due to increased protein concentration connected with the mechanism of production of antibodies. A detailed study of this phenomenon is in progress. © 1959 Nature Publishing Group.