[Death of adhering spleen cells (macrophages) in vitro in delayed hypersensitivity to microbial antigens].

The cytotoxic action of immune lymphocytes on the adhering cells of the spleen obtained from guinea pigs sensitized and nonsensitized with BCG was studied in autologous and allogenous systems. A low cytotoxic effect revealed in cultivation with tuberculin of a suspension of spleen cells obtained from sensitized guinea pigs increased considerably after addition of lymph node cells from the same animal. Determination of death of the adhering cells of the spleen, as well as of the adhering cells of the lymph nodes could be used as a sensitive method for detection of hypersensitivity of a delayed type. Use of the splenic cells in the capacity of target cells is more convenient, since there are much more adhering cells in the spleen than in the suspension of lymph node cells.