The reactivity of spleen cells from malarious rats to non specific mitogens

Spleen cells from rats infected with Plasmodium berghei were stimulated in vitro by phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A and by bacterial lipopolysaccharide. In addition the release of lymphocyte activating factor (LAF) by splenic macrophages was assayed using a heterologous thymocyte culture. The reactivity of spleen lymphocytes from malarious rats was severely affected. The cells did not react either to the T cell specific mitogens or to the B cell stimulant. The reactivity of macrophages, as measured by the release of LAF, was not altered by the disease.