The Influence of Blockade of the Reticuloendothelial System on the Formation of Antibodies

Summary and Conclusions The liberation into the blood stream of hemolysins to sheep’s red corpuscles following blockading procedures depends upon the manner of administration of the blockading material and the amount of antigen injected. Repeated injections of suspensions of India ink, particularly when given intravenously and continued after the injection of a small quantity of “test-antigen,” are followed by a significant decrease in the liberation of antibody into the blood stream, this liberation apparently varying inversely with the extent to which the phagocytic cells are blocked. This decrease in output of antibody is independent of individual variation of animals, loss of weight or of depression by fluids alone. Evidence is presented that small amounts of blockading material stimulate the liberation of antibody whereas large amounts tend to depress such a liberation. These experiments offer additional evidence that antibodies, at least hemolysins, are formed by the phagocytic cells of the mesenchymal tissues.