Abstract
IN previous investigations it has been found that the normal development of the bursa of Fabricius in chickens is essential if the bird is to develop fully its potential antibody-forming capacity1–3. In these investigations2,3 the development of the bursa was partially or completely inhibited by the intra-embryonic injection of testosterone propionate. When the inhibition of bursal lymphoid tissue was complete, no antibody production could be detected after challenge at 4–6 weeks of age with 5 different antigens3. Providing the thymus in these chickens was morphologically normal, there was no detectable reduction in splenic lymphoid follicles, peripheral blood lymphocyte-levels, or homograft immunity to solid grafts3. A marked reduction in cells of the plasmacytic series has been observed in the spleens of both hormonally3 and surgically4 bursectomized chickens. As these chickens resembled patients with agammaglobulinæmia5 in their inability to produce circulating antibodies, physicochemical studies on the serum immunoglobulins were commenced and form the basis of this presentation.
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CAREY, J., WARNER, N. Gamma-globulin Synthesis in Hormonally Bursectomized Chickens. Nature 203, 198–199 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/203198a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/203198a0
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