Finally, in a series of canine experiments, he showed that different
types of ALG (using B-cell lymphocytes compared to T-cell lymphocytes
for immunization) were associated with different degrees of
depletion of lymphocytes in thymic dependent and gut dependent
areas. Greater than 90% depletion of cells in thymic dependent areas
had a greater effect on decreasing cell-mediated immune responses
compared to antibody responses whereas the percent of depletion
of cells in gut dependent areas greater than 90% was associated
with reduced antibody responses to an antigenic stimulus. 5 These
studies have been a stimulus for the development of more specific
antilymphocyte antibodies based upon specific antigens (such as anti-
CD3 antilymphocyte globulin).