[Development of arrangement and degradation of the system of rough endoplasmic reticulum in antibody-producing plasma cells].

During the immune response of the cells of murine omentum to horseradish peroxidase which had been administered intraperitoneally together together with endotoxin or endotoxoid acting as an adjuvans the plasma cells showed several different patterns of the rough endoplasmic reticulum [RER] system. Irregular to bizarre RER structures occurred plasma cells during the initial phase of the immune reaction only, whereas the plasma cells found at later stages had characteristic highly organized RER systems. The irregular "atypical" RER patterns have been regarded by some authorities as fully functional structures developed under the influence of a rapid differentiation of immunocompetent cells following administration of mitogens as well as due to a variously pronounced toxic influence of mitogens upon cell organelles. The possibilities of RER system degradation and the fate of antibodies which had not been discharged by the plasma cells has been discussed.