Influence of the combination of intraperitoneal and footpad immunization on anti-H-Y immunological reactivity.

In the following work the influence of the combination of intraperitoneal (i.p.) and footpad (f.p.) immunization on anti-H-Y immunological responsiveness in female CBA mice is described. Immunological responsiveness was determined on the basis of rejection or non-rejection of syngeneic male skin grafts from previously immunized CBA females. It was determined that the rejection of grafts is influenced by the nature of the first contact with the antigen. For instance, if the first immunization is by i.p. injection and the remainder by f.p. injections, then there is no rejection of grafts, and vice versa, rejection of grafts occurs if the first immunization is by f.p. injection regardless of whether the remainder are given i.p. The results are discussed in the context of existing theories in order to explain specific immunological (non-)responsiveness.