[The influence of thymus on mouse resistance against rabies before and after vaccination (author's transl)]

Thymus participation was investigated in a comparative study of natural resistance to rabies in Nude mice and normal litter mates. Such participation does not seem to happen during Challenge Virus Strain infection but might change the host cell-virus metabolism during street rabies infection by inhibition of Negri bodies genesis. However, this participation seems indispensable (except in few cases) to allow resistance after vaccination. For instance twice more antigen is necessary to immunize thymectomized than normal mice, and most of Nude mice can not stand intramuscular challenge nor produce antibodies, neither they are able to be protected by injection of antirabies antibodies.