Jerne plaque technique

Hoffman et al.52, presented evidence that a single oral dose of tilorone enhanced the primary immune response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in mice as measured by the Jerne Plaque technique. They also reported an increase in hemolysin titer after tilorone administration. To further evaluate the action of tilorone on humoral antibody responses, Megel ef a/.3 have studied its effect on 19S and 7S production in the primary and secondary immune responses in mice. It was found that tilorone elevated 19S antibody titer on days 3 and 4 after immunization. After 9 days of continuous drug administration, the 19 S response for both groups was diminished compared to days 3 and 4 however tilorone was found to cause a significant increase in the 7S antibody production compared to controls. Tilorone also stimulated the 19S response to E. coli endotoxin, a thymus-independent antigen, on days 3 and 4 after immunization. 

The numbers of spleen cells producing antibody against sheep red blood cells were estimated by the Jerne-plaque technique (Jerne Nordin, 1963). Both Balb/c and Swiss albino mice were used as described in the individual experiments. Details of antigen and drug administration are given in the text. 

Supplementation of folate-deficient immunized rats produced an increase in leucocyte numbers but no change in antibody titers. Subsequent studies have shown that the number of splenic anti-SRBC forming cells (as determined by the Jerne plaque techniques) is reduced from 160/10 spleen cells to 10/10° (Kumar and Axelrod,... 

The study of the immune response at cellular level was therefore undertaken by two methods the haemolysin plaque forming cells (PFC) assay using the modified Jerne technique" and the rosette forming cells (RFC) test using the method described previously The PFC are the antibody secreting cells (mature or immature plasmocytes) derived from antigen-induced differentiation of B lymphocytes. 

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