IL-12 priming plays an important role in stimulation of CD8+ effector T cells and development of CD8+ memory T (Tm) cells. However, the functional alteration of CD8+ Tm cells developed in the absence of IL-12 priming is elusive. In this study, we investigated the capacity of secondary expansion of CD8+ Tm cells developed from transgenic OT I CD8+ T cells. The latter cells were in vitro and in vivo stimulated by ovalbumin (OVA)-pulsed dendritic cells [DCOVA and (IL-12-/-)DCOVA] derived from wild-type C57BL/6 and IL-12 gene knockout mice, respectively. We demonstrated that IL-12 priming is important not only in CD8+ T cell clonal expansion, but also in generation of CD8+ Tm cells with the capacity of secondary expansion upon antigen re-encounter. However, IL-12 signaling is not involved in CD8+ Tm cell survival and recall responses. Therefore, this study provides useful information for vaccine design and development.