Functional and Ultrastructural Studies of Antibody-producing Cells Exposed to 10 000 R in Millipore Diffusion Chambers

Summary

Antibody-producing plasma cells in millipore diffusion chambers continue to synthesize specific antibodies for several days after exposure to 10 000 R. Three out of ten nucleated cells were found to be specific antibody producers 4 days after exposure to x-rays, whereas in the unirradiated control only one out of ten was an antibody-producing cell. The half-life of irradiated antibody-producing cells was not different from that of unirradiated cells. Autoradiographic studies revealed that a significant number of immature plasma cells were synthesizing DNA as late as 15 days after irradiation. However, these DNA-synthesizing cells did not represent a proliferating cell fraction, because after irradiation there was apparently no progression of cells through the cell-cycle. Electron microscopic studies showed that fully developed endoplasmic reticulum rich in ribosomes and Golgi complex remained intact, whereas nuclear damage was pronounced. Ruptured plasma membranes and swelling of mitochondria were found frequently in the irradiated population when the cells were fixed with Palade's fixative alone, but not when fixed with combined 2·5 per cent glutaraldehyde and Palade's fixative.