Antigenic surface determinants of chicken lymphoid cells. I. Serologic properties of anti-bursa and anti-thymus sera.

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  • 1 October 1973
    • journal article
    • Vol. 15  (2) , 237-49
Abstract
The serologic properties of turkey antisera to chicken bursa (ABS) and thymus (ATS) cells were assayed by cytolysis-in-agar, conventional cytotoxicity tests and indirect immunofluorescence. Using proper absorptions the following antigenic surface determinants were detected on bursal and thymic lymphoid cells: (a) common lymphocyte antigens present on both kinds of cells; (b) thymus-specific antigens; (c) bursa-specific antigens; (d) in addition to the latter, bursa cells displayed immunoglobulin surface determinants. Even before absorption the anti-thymus and anti-bursa sera gave higher titres of reactions with homologous target cell preparations. In complement dependent cytotoxicity tests ABS and ATS reacted specifically with bursa and thymus cells respectively. In the spleen of 2- and 3-week-old chickens 20–30% of lymphoid cells were killed by ABS and 40–50% by ATS. The advantage of avian antilymphocyte sera for in vivo studies in chickens are emphasized.