Immunoglobulin Determinants on Chicken Lymphocytes Demonstrated by the Mixed Antiglobulin Reaction

Abstract

Peripheral lymphocytes from normal adult chickens, agammaglobulinaemic chickens bursectomised surgically as 17-day-old embryos, and thymectomised irradiated chickens were examined by the mixed antiglobulin reaction for surface immunoglobulin determinants. Normal birds had between 2.5 and 15.8% of Fab-bearing cells, and an average of 1% cells with γ- and 5.3% with μ-determinants. Thymectomy increased the percentages of Fab-positive but not γ-positive cells. Lymphocytes from bursectomised agammaglobulinaemic chickens did not carry any detectable immunoglobulin determinants. The results of preliminary tests on thymus, spleen and bursa cells are included.