[Modification of antibody formation in animal experiments by glucocorticoids and aristolochic acid]

In the bone marrow of guinea pigs a decrease of lymphocytes resulted after immunisation against Q-fever antigen, compensating within 4 weeks. Under treatment with prednisolone normalisation occurred within 3, with aristolochic acid as well as with prednisolone and aristolochic acid already up to the 2nd week. After immunisation plasma cell increase was lasting longer in the aristolochic acid group than in other groups. The antibody determinations resulted in different values. After immunisation with Q-fever antigen the antibody levels in rabbits increased without significant differences between the control animals and the animals treated with prednisolone or aristolochic acid. An special increase of antibody formation was to be observed in the group with combined therapy. Possibilities for the influence on the immune response by the drugs used are discussed.