[Antigen-induced increase in the number of cells producing non-specific immunoglobulins].

The appearance of antibody- and nonspecific immunoglobulin-forming cells (AFC and nIFC) in spleen cell suspensions from normal mice and from those immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was studied. The cell suspensions were cultivated in the modified Mishell-Dutton system. The induction of the immune response in vitro resulted in a sharp increase of nIFC formation. Their amount reached 51 218 per 10(6) spleen cells, i. e exceeded the number fo AFC 25-172-fold. Much more was the increase in the absolute number of nIFC during cultivation in the presence of antigen of spleen cells from animals immunized with SRBC 3--4 days before experimentation. In this case, the maximum number of nIFC reached 165 000 per 10(6) spleen cells, i. e. 33% of the total number of B-cells. The kinetics of AFC and nIFC formation and regulatory mechanisms of the populations varied under different conditions. The nature and potential mechanisms of nIFC formation under the influence of the antigen are discussed.