Maturation of Hemolysin-Producing Cell Clones

INVESTIGATIONS OF THE INDUCTION PERIOD OF AN IN VITRO HEMOLYSIN RESPONSE TO SHEEP ERYTHROCYTE ANTIGEN REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: 1. After antigen stimulation precursors of plaque-forming cells rapidly maturate to the point of hemolysin production. 2. Initial maturation probably occurs in the absence of cell division. 3. After initial maturation, a latent period of about 12 hr occurs before the first doubling of PFC. 4. At least the first three cell doublings are synchronous, with a generation time of 7-8 hr. 5. Synchronous cell division implies that all precursor cells are at the same point in the cell cyde when they are initially stimulated.