Dextran potentiation of the canine lymphocyte response to plant mitogens (38515).

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from Beagle dogs were separated using a dextran sedimentation technique. Lymphocyte cultures were stimulated by the plant mitogens phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM), both in the presence of dextran and after dextran had been removed from the medium. It was found that dextran acted synergistically with both PHA and PWN and greatly potentiated the mitogenic response of the lymphocytes. The routine use of dextran in separating blood lymphocytes for culture purposes should be reevaluated in light of these findings.