The effect of environmental temperature on immune response and metabolism of the young chicken. 3. Effect of environmental temperature on the humoral immune response following injection of sheep red blood cells.

The effect of environmental temperature on the humoral immune response of pullets following injection of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was investigated. For this purpose four experiments were performed in two climate respiration chambers. In each experiment a standard temperature regimen of constant 25 C was maintained in one chamber. The temperature regimens in the other chamber were as follows: a constant temperature of 15 C (Experiment 1) and 35 C (Experiment 3) and a temperature, which fluctuated between 10 to 20 C (Experiment 2) and between 30 to 40 C (Experiment 4). Total haemagglutinin anti-SRBC antibody titers at Day 5 after injection were increased significantly (P less than .01) at 10 to 20 C, 35 C, and 30 to 40 C compared to the antibody titers of pullets at 25 C. 2-Mercapto-ethanol resistant antibody titers at Day 5 after injection were increased significantly (P less than .05) at 35 C and 30 to 40 C. The effect of feeding level and thermal acclimation on antibody titers was investigated within each temperature regimen. Restricted feeding at low or high temperatures increased antibody titers at Day 5 after injection. Exchange of pullets, just before injection, to low or high temperatures decreased total antibody titers at Day 5 after injection.