Antigen trapping in the spleen of the turtle, Chrysemys scripta elegans

Using horse-radish peroxidase (HRP)-anti-HRP immune complexes, 'antigen trapping' was studied in the spleen of the turtle, Chrysemys scripta elegans. It was found that antigen-trapping cells were situated in the periellipsoidal lymphocyte sheath of the white pulp only. The antigen-trapping cells have a dendritic character and a large lobulated nucleus. Carbon injections revealed that these cells do not phagocytose. The results are discussed with respect to the phylogeny of antigen-trapping cells.