[Induction of tolerance by the intrathymic injection of antigen in mice (author's transl)].

Immunological tolerance can be easily introduced in mice by a direct injection of antigen into the thymus. Comparing the efficiency of tolerance induction by intrathymic injection of antigen with that by intravenous one, the former has proved to be far more superior than the latter, and the state of tolerance brought about by the former was more complete than that by the latter. One of the reasons why the intrathymic injection of antigen is an useful means for tolerance induction is considered to be ascribable to the appearance of large amount of suppressor T cells stimulated by the direct contact of antigen and thymocytes, the evidence of which being shown in the present study.