A RADIOACTIVE ANTISERUM IN AGAR TECHNIQUE FOR THE DEMONSTRATION OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN SECRETION BY LYMPHOID CELLS.

A technique is described for the detection of immunoglobulins secreted by individual lymphoid cells. Cells were cultured. in agarose gel containing dilute radio- labelled anti-immunoglobulin antibodies. The secreted immunoglobulins produced a precipitin lattice which was made visible by washing the gel, followed by autoradiography. Immunoglobulin secreting cells were surrounded by clusters, or 'galaxies' of silver grains. Galaxies did not appear in the presence of certain metabolic inhibitors, indicating that the secretion of immunoglobulin was an active process dependent upon cell metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]