Lymphoepithelial tissues of the intestine and differentiation of antibody production.

The antibody response of young rabbits to the injection of killed Brucella abortus was abolished by prior extirpation of intestinal lymphoepithelial tissues combined with lethal xirradiation and reconstitution with rabbit fetal liver cells. Extirpative surgery alone, like lethal x-irradiation and reconstitution without surgery, did not abolish this response. Intestinal lymphoepithelial tissues of rabbits apparently play a central lymphoid function and are responsible for the differentiation of the lymphoid cell line which produces specific antibody and immunoglobulins.