Effect of a sarcolysin-containing polymer on the the lymphatic tissues and immune response to sheep red blood cells.

The influence on the size of lymphoid organs and immune response to sheep erythrocytes in BALB/c mice of an effective antitumor polymer preparation, a compound of sarcolysin with a copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and maleic anhydride (SVPMA) was studied. A significant reduction in the weights of the thymus and spleen, and in the serum hemagglutinin titers as well as a slight decrease in the number of spleen rosette-forming cells were observed on animals receiving sarcolysin rather than on animals receiving SVPMA when compared with each other as well as with a control group of mice. Moreover a significant stimulating effect on the size of the lymph nodes and partly on the spleen was seen in the mice treated with SVPMA. These results, therefore, provide additional evidence on the possibility to obtain, on the basis of synthetic polymers, effective antitumor preparations with minimal or no immunodepressive properties.