Effects of Temperature on Antibody Production by Chicken Immunocytes

Immunocytes from immunized allogeneic donors and mouse erythrocytes an antigen were injected intravenously into 14-day host embryos which were then incubated at different temperatures for varying lengths of time depending on the experiment. Antibody formation in the in vivo system was limited to a temperature range of about 31° to 41°C. and prolonged exposure to 27°C. or lower was generally lethal to host embryos. Compared to the 38°C. controls, the antibody responses at 41° and 34° were much alike in rate of antibody synthesis and in peak titers although some acceleration or delay were evident at the higher and lower temperatures respectively. A three-day exposure to 31°C. and two days at still lower temperatures reduced the hemagglutinin response considerably. The reduction in the immune response varied directly with the depression of temperature and duration of exposure. Greater immunosuppression resulted when the same cold treatment was applied early in the antibody response than when applied later.