Antibody-forming cells in the contralateral and ipsilateral lymph nodes draining the locally immunized supramammary/suprainguinal region

The Jerne hemolytic plaque assay was used to compare the number of antibody forming cells in the ipsilateral supramammary/suprainguinal lymph node which drains the udder, its counterpart area in males, of dairy goats inoculated with the antigen, sheep red blood cells, and in the contralateral lymph node which drains the corresponding non-inoculated area. Parenteral immunization was shown to have suppressing effects upon the local immune responses to the subsequently applied antigens. Three monthly intramammary inoculations of the antigen induced significant numbers of indirect plaque-forming cells (i.e. immunoglobulin G antibody producing cells) in both draining (ipsilateral) and non-draining (contralateral) nodes, suggesting antigen relocation and/or cell relocation from the inoculated side. However, the number of indirect plaque-forming cells in the ipsilateral node was far greater than that in the contralateral node, indicating that the majority of memory cells remained in the inoculated site.