1. The response of the spleen to a single intravenous injection of a small amount of antigen was studied in 24 chickens. The following results were obtained:

    • The spleen weight increased slightly on the 4th day,

    • There was a slight increase in the mitotic index on the 1st, 2nd and 4th day,

    • The proportions of reticular cells and prolymphocytes did not change,

    • The percentage of lymphocytes decreased on the 4th day and remained low on the 6th day,

    • The percentage of proplasmacytes increased on the 2nd day and remained high on the 4th day,

    • The percentage of plasmacytes increased on the 4th day and remained high on the 6th and 8th days.

  2. Circulating antibody appeared on the 6th day and attained its maximum concentrations on the 6th and 8th days.

  3. It is suggested that cells of the plasmacytic series are directly involved in some aspect of the production of antibody protein in the chicken.

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