Antibody response to intravenous immunization following splenic tissue autotransplantation in Sprague-Dawley rats.

The response to intravenous challenge with sheep erythrocytes was determined in Sprague-Dawley rats following autotransplantation of splenic tissue into the subcutaneous tissue, peritoneal cavity, or a surgically created omental pouch. There was a marked rise in heterophil antibody titer following intravenous challenge in ten control animals, and no rise in titer in nine of ten asplenic animals. Heterophil antibody titers increased in all of the animals with transplants, but the response in some was less than that in control animals. Thus autotransplanted splenic tissue demonstrated immunologic responses similar to those of normal, intact spleen.