Selective Inhibition of Plaque-Forming Cells by Bursa-Specific Antisera

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Abstract
The distinct role played in birds by the thymus and the bursa of Fabricius in the ontogenesis of the immune response is now well documented (1). Recently, the characterization of the lymphocytes of these two organs by their antigenic specificities has further emphasized their individuality (2). Their respective functional identity could also be demonstrated by selective immunologic inhibition. Thymus-specific antisera were shown to inhibit the graft-versus-host reaction elicited by buffy coat cells on chicken chorioallantoic membranes, whereas bursa-specific antisera had but little effect on that reaction (3). In the present work, we report that bursa-specific antisera can inhibit hemolytic plaque formation in spleen cell preparations while thymus-specific antisera have virtually no inhibiting effect. The antisera, prepared by immunizing rabbits with fresh thymic and bursal lymphocytes from young chicks, were rendered organ-specific by cross-absorption. Full details of the immunizing schedule, absorptions of antisera and organ-specificity assay have been reported previously (2, 3).

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