The nuclear histones of control and antigen-affected lymphocytes and thymocytes were measured in terms of their intensity of staining with ammoniacal-silver (A-S) and alkaline fast green (FG). Subcutaneous injection of full strength and doubly concentrated tetanus toxoid into the upper forelimb was followed by an acute decrease in the intensity of the FG and A-S staining of the thymocyte nuclear histones. Such changes in staining were delayed in the nuclear histones of the regional axillary lymph nodes. In contrast, the injection of a 1:100 dilution of tetanus toxoid caused an acute decrease in staining of the nuclei of the regional lymph node lymphocytes but only minimal changes in the thymocytes. An acute decrease in staining of the lymph node lymphocytes also occurred when heterologous serum proteins were used as the antigen. Prior administration of cortisone was found to inhibit the antigen-induced changes in the staining of lymphocyte nuclear histones. No such inhibitions occurred after the administration of saline solution. The findings suggest that the nuclear histones play a significant role in the immunological competence of lymphoid cells. However, additional studies are needed to define the biochemical basis of the observed changes as well as the mechanisms whereby antigen-induced changes in nuclear histones participate in the complex cellular and serological alterations which are evoked by antigens, viz. plasma cell formation and antibody synthesis.
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1 September 1965
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September 01 1965
ANTIGEN-INDUCED CHANGES IN LYMPHOID CELL HISTONES : II. Regional Lymph Nodes
Maurice M. Black,
Maurice M. Black
From the Department of Pathology, New York Medical College, New York City
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Hudson R. Ansley
Hudson R. Ansley
From the Department of Pathology, New York Medical College, New York City
Search for other works by this author on:
Maurice M. Black
From the Department of Pathology, New York Medical College, New York City
Hudson R. Ansley
From the Department of Pathology, New York Medical College, New York City
Received:
February 26 1965
Online ISSN: 1540-8140
Print ISSN: 0021-9525
Copyright © 1965 by The Rockefeller University Press
1965
J Cell Biol (1965) 26 (3): 797–803.
Article history
Received:
February 26 1965
Citation
Maurice M. Black, Hudson R. Ansley; ANTIGEN-INDUCED CHANGES IN LYMPHOID CELL HISTONES : II. Regional Lymph Nodes . J Cell Biol 1 September 1965; 26 (3): 797–803. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.26.3.797
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