Discernment of the sensitized inner ear by peripheral immunocompetent lymphocytes

Objective To investigate the role of peripheral immunocompetent lymphocytes during the immune response in the inner ear. Methods Sensitized lymphocytes From peripheral blood, neck lymph nodes and spleen of three groups of donor animals, i.e., group A immunized intraderma lly with keyhole limpet hemocyanine (KLH) and both inner ears challenged wi th KLH, group B received only KLH intradermally without inner ear challenge , and group C used as control, were isolated and labelled with Cr-51. The l abelled lymphocytes were injected intravenously into the recipients. They w ere immunized intradermally with right inner ears challenged with KLH. Twen ty to 24 h later, the radioactivities in the temporal bones of the recipien ts were assayed to detect the infiltration of labelled cells. Results In groups A and B, the radioactivity in the right temporal bones wa s higher than that in the left temporal bones (P < 0.05). The highest label ling radioactivity was detected in the right temporal bones of group A. The lowest migration of Cr-51-labelled cells to the inner ear was found in gro up C. The ratio of radioactivity between right (challenged) and left (uncha llenged) inner ears was higher in group A than in groups B and C, with the difference being significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion The immune reaction in response to antigenic stimulation in the inner ear is immunologically modulated by the peripheral systemic circulati on.