Immunocytochemical Studies on B Lymphocytes from the Biozzi High and Low Lines of Mice Selected for Their Responses to Heterologous Erythrocytes

The high and low antibody producing lines of mice developed by Biozzi were studied immunocytochemically in an attempt to determine several parameters of B lymphocyte function. At 8–9 weeks of age, both lines contain the same number of B cells in spleen, lymph node and thymus. The B cells of the high line contain about one-third more surface Ig; the distribution of surface Ig in cells of both lines as well as the redistribution of the surface Ig-anti Ig complexes were identical. At 13–14 weeks of age, the number of B cells was higher in the high antibody producing mice; at this age, however, the mean content of Ig per B lymphocyte was identical.