Abstract
Rabbit antimouse antilymphocyte serum (ALS) was examined for effect on the time course of growth of mouse adenovirus strain K87 in oral infection. Four-week-old DK 1 inbred albino mice were used. At the same time examinations were carried out for the peripheral blood cells, the mouse adenovirus-nuetralizing substance, and the 3 classes of immunoglobulin, IgA, IgG, and IgM, in the small intestine, as well as in the serum, of the mouse. Sera were collected from four rabbits and pooled as an ALS, which was injected intraperitoneally in a dose of 0.15ml/head/day every day for 3 weeks. The results obtained are summarized as follows.
1) In ALS-treated mice, prolonged growth of the virus was observed distinctly, as compared with ALS-not-treated mice.
2) Peripheral small lymphocytes decreased in count especially with ALS treatment. After about a week of discontinuance of ALS treatment, however, the small-lymphocyte count returned to the level before the treatment.
3) No peripheral erythrocyte count decreased with ALS treatment. It seemed that the hemolysin-formation may have been prevented by the careful preparation of antigen cells.
4) In all the mice except a few, K87-neutralizing activity and immunoglobulin of the serum and small-intestinal wall and contents were at almost the same levels, regardless of the application or omission of ALS treatment. In several mice in which was observed prolongation of virus growth, the appearance of K87-neutralizing activity and IgA in the small-intestinal wall and contents was retarded in some cases or not retarded in others. It was suggested that the effect of humoral immunity might have induced the former cases and the effect of cell-mediated immunity the later.
