The effects of hydrocortisone and bacterial lipopolysaccharide on the anti-erythrocyte response in the spleens of adult Triturus viridescens.

The effects of hydrocortisone (HC) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) have been tested separately and in combination, on the antigen-binding response of splenocytes of the newt. Triturus viridescens immunized with horse erythrocytes (HRBC). The timing of the presentation of each was made relative to when challenge with either low (0.0025%) or high (25%) doses of the immunogen (HRBC) was effected. Our results showed inhibition of both low and high dose responses by HC and additionally suggested that the helper-cell population of the newt is HC-sensitive. LPS given four days prior to antigen challenge initiated the generation of antigen-binding cells which enhanced the low, but not the high dose response. The use of LPS in conjunction with HC provided suggestive evidence that those LPS stimulated cells which had enhanced the low immunogen dose antigen-binding cell response were HC-resistant. Thus LPS may stimulate a non-helper cell population in the newt which is HC-resistant. The use of these two immunologic probes has provided supportive evidence on the heterogeneity of the lymphoid population of the newt, Triturus viridescens.