The pulmonary antibody-forming cell response in the guinea pig after intratracheal immunization.

Guinea pigs were immunized by an intratracheal instillation of 5 X 10(9) sheep red blood cells (sRBCs) with or without the immunoadjuvant maleic vinyl ether-2 (MVE). At 6 days post immunization, a peak IgM antibody-forming cell (AFC) response was detected in lung-associated lymph nodes (LALNs), lung tissue, lavage fluid, blood, and spleen. The time course of the response in the LALNs was similar to that of the response of the popliteal lymph node after footpad immunization. The use of MVE significantly enhanced this response. In addition, immunization with the sRBCs enhanced the phagocytic activity of the lung macrophages. The magnitude and kinetics of the AFC response seen in the guinea pig lung is compared to the response seen in other animals.