A comparison of spleen and lymph node cells as fusion partners for the raising of monoclonal antibodies after different routes of immunisation.

Administration of antigen (human insulin) via the rear footpads of BALB/c mice with subsequent fusion of popliteal and inguinal lymph node lymphocytes induced a higher frequency of hybridomas (100%) secreting specific antibody than either intradermal immunisation and lymph node cell fusion (53%) or conventional subcutaneous immunisation and intraperitoneal boost followed by splenic lymphocyte fusion (8%). The rank order of serum antibody titres was found to correlate with the order of fusion efficiencies. Lymph node cell fusions also produced a greater spectrum of antibody specificities. Such differences in fusion efficiencies were also observed using bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase.