The alloantibody response in the allogeneically pregnant rat. V. Absence of cell-mediated immunity in high responders.

Allogeneically pregnant rats have been examined postpartum to determine whether they are sensitized against paternal class I antigens for cell-mediated immunity. This study was undertaken as this point is ambiguous. Since the response of the female to paternal MHC antigens is genetically controlled it is possible that the inability of some investigations to detect cell-mediated immunity against the paternal strain was due to the use of non-responder strain combinations. Cell-mediated immunity was assayed in a strain combination that is an unambiguous high responder, in which 100% of the females respond to the paternal strain by making alloantibodies. Maternal cell-mediated responses to paternal antigens were measured by the assays of DTH and IL-2 secretion under limiting conditions. We were unable to detect any cell-mediated immunity to paternal class I antigens even though the female produced copious quantities of alloantibody.