The Proliferative and Anamnestic Antibody Response of Rabbit Lymphoid Cells in Vitro

The anamnestic responses of the right and left popliteal lymph nodes of rabbits after a single injection of diphtheria toxoid (DT) into the left footpad were studied in vitro. The draining node always produced a higher response, even at intervals up to 11 months after priming. Weekly injections of rabbit anti-DT, either into the right footpad, or in larger amounts, intravenously, significantly increased the difference in responsiveness between the two nodes by lowering the response on the uninjected side. It is suggested that, aside from memory cells reaching the right node, priming of this lymph node is partly due to antigen carried over from the injected side.