Allotype suppression in the chicken III. Analysis of the recovery from suppression by neonatally injected or maternal antibodies

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Abstract
Injection of M‐1 (Cμ), G‐1 (CμgM) heterozygous chickens on the day of hatch with anti‐IgM‐1 antiserum induced allotype suppression from which chickens recovered over a period of approximately 4 months. The suppression of the serum IgM‐1 levels was matched by a decrease in the number of splenic and peripheral blood B cells bearing the relevant IgM‐1 allotype, and a compensatory increase in the number of cells bearing the alternative nonsuppressed IgM‐1 allotype. However, the proportion of IgM‐1‐bearing bursal cells was only marginally altered. The recovery from suppression was due to B cell recruitment and could be abrogated by bursectomy. Allotype suppression induced in ovo or maintained by repeated injections of anti‐IgM‐1 anti‐serum resulted in chronic suppression and depletion of the relevant peripheral as well as bursal IgM‐1‐bearing cells. Antibody titers of the relevant allotype in partially suppressed chickens generally correlated with serum allotype levels without clonal restriction in antibody response of the suppressed allotype.