In vitro DNA synthesis in lymphocytes from guinea pigs epicutaneously sensitized with DNCB.

Lymph node lymphocytes from guinea pigs sensitized with the hapten homogenized in Freund's complete adjuvant or pretreated with cyclophosphamide shortly before an epicutaneous sensitization are capable of responding in vitro to a larger set of antigenic preparations than the lymphocytes from only epicutaneously sensitized animals. This may be due to a formation of a larger set of antigenic determinants when the hapten was homogenized in Freund's complete adjuvant or to a formation of a larger repertoire of lymphocytes capable of recognizing these determinants as it might be the result of pretreatment with cyclophosphamide. These procedures may also change the proportion of responding cells in the lymphocyte suspensions.