Adjuvant Effect of Diffusion Chambers on Soluble Antigens. ∗

Summary

Data have been presented which show a marked adjuvant effect of diffusion chambers made with filters of 0.1 μ pore size on the antigenicity of 2 soluble antigens, hemocyanin and ferritin, in rats and mice. This effect occurs not only when antigen is administered in the chamber but also after insertion of a saline-filled chamber followed by intraperitoneal injection of the antigen. Chamber components were shown to be not responsible for the enhanced antibody production. The possible mechanism has been discussed in terms of a depot function and also in terms of the cellular response on and around the chambers. Also discussed were the implications of these findings on studies of antibody formation in diffusion chambers.