Nonspecific Stimulation of Antibody Production in Surgically Bursectomized Chickens by Bursa-Containing Diffusion Chambers

[摘要] Implantation of diffusion chambers containing bursa from 5-day-old chicks resulted in an enhanced antibody response in surgically bursectomized chickens immunized with human erythrocytes 3 days after implantation. A similar effect was obtained with bowel in the chambers. Bursas from 19-day embryos caused no enhancement. Bacterial cultures confirmed that chambers containing bursa from 5-day-old chicks were contaminated whereas those containing embryonic bursa were sterile. The existing evidence for a bursal humoral factor which is important in controlling immunoglobulin and antibody production must be re-evaluated with respect to the possibility that the observed enhancement of antibody production may be a function of bacterial products released from contaminated diffusion chambers.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）