Analysis of contact sensitivity to 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) in allogeneic bone marrow chimaera in mice

Irradiated C57BL/6 (B6) and C3H mice were reconstituted with bone marrow cells from BALB/c mice. The chimaeric mice, [BALB/c----B6] and [BALB/c----C3H], developed and expressed contact sensitivity to DNFB. The in vivo responses paralleled to proliferative responses of regional lymph node cells of the chimaeras to DNBS in vitro. Furthermore, intravenous administration of DNBS rendered the chimaeras tolerant to subsequent sensitization with DNFB. The tolerance was transferred to lightly irradiated BALB/c mice by the spleen and lymph node T cells. These results represent marked contrast to our previous observations that [B6----C3H] and [B6----AKR] chimaeras were unable to develop specific unresponsiveness to stimulation with DNFB by the intravenous route. The controversial observations seen in the chimaeras prepared by BALB/c bone marrows and those prepared by B6 cells are discussed.