In Vitro Studies of Chicken Lymphoid Cells

Suitable conditions for the response of chicken spleen lymphoid cells to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) in short term tissue culture were established. The magnitudes and dynamics of the PHA induced changes in total DNA, RNA and protein synthesis during a 48 hour period were followed. The rate of the incorporation of H3‐uridine into RNA and H3‐L‐leucine into protein accelerated during the first 4 hours after the addition of the PHA. The increase was linear for 24 and 36 hours respectively. The increase of the incorporation of H3‐thymidine into DNA started at 16 hours and reached a maximum at 36 hours. Spleen lymphoid cells from hypogammaglobulinaemic bursectomized‐irradiated and normogammaglobulinaemic control‐irradiated chickens responded in all but one respect equally well to PHA. The increase of the rate of H3‐uridine incorporation, determined by 4‐hour pulses, was more rapid for the spleen cells from bursectomized‐irradiated animals.