Topical ocular immunization of rabbits.

New Zealand white rabbits were immunized by dropping ovalbumin (100 mg/ml) into the conjunctival sac four times daily for 3 weeks. Many rabbits developed detectable hemagglutinating antibody by day 7 and all had antibody by day 14. The serum antibody persisted for at least 6 months after the beginning of immunization. Plaque-forming cells were found in the lymph nodes, spleens, the conjunctiva, and limbal tissue. Fc receptor cells were found in all the tissues examined, but the numbers of Fc receptors cells did not seem to have any relationship to the numbers of plaque-forming cells in the same tissues.