Immunologic responsiveness of Young AKR mice to iodoacetate and to iodoacetate-treated tumor cells

The effect of the sulfhydryl inhibitor iodoacetate and of iodoacetate-treated thymocytes from leukemic AKR mice (ITC) on the humoral immune response of preleukemic AKR mice (8 or 12 weeks old) to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) was assessed. Six days after a single injection of iodoacetate or ITC (viable or nonviable), mice were administered SRBC, and their spleens and thymuses assayed for total number of plaque-forming cells (PFC) four days later. Histopathologic studies also were performed on samplings of mice from all test and control groups. Significant increases in total numbers of splenic PFC were noted in mice given either iodoacetate or viable ITC. Histopathologic examination of the spleens of AKR mice from these two groups revealed large numbers of mature lymphoid cells in the red pulp areas. The IgG response was absent in mice administered ITC (viable or nonviable).