The immunosuppressive effect of concanvalin A. III. Influence on the survival time of skin allografts in mice.

: The influence of Con-A on the survival time of skin grafts in mice was examined. F1 mice (BALB/c X DBA/2) were the skin donors and C57BL X C3H were the recipients. More than a two-fold prolongation in the survival time of the grafted skin was obtained by a single 100 microgram dose of Con-A given intravenously to mice 24 h prior to grafting. Con-A given in a similar manner three days after grafting did not influence the skin graft. The results obtained substantiate our earlier observations which suggested that Con-A administered prior to an antigen may inhibit the immunological response.