Transformation of chicken lymphocytes stimulated by concanavalin A: response parameters.

The culture conditions for obtaining the maximum transformation of chicken lymphocytes stimulated by the mitogen Concanavalin A are described in this paper. Lymphocytes were cultured in round bottom microtiter tissue culture plates and the incorporation of 3H-methyl-thymidine (3H-TdR) into lymphocyte deoxyribonucleic acid was used to quantitatively evaluate transformation. Maximum incorporation of 3H-methyl-thymidine occurred when 2 x 10(6) lymphocytes and 4 micrograms of Concanavalin A were added to each culture. Deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis was greatest during the period of 18 to 36 hours after addition of mitogen. Differences between chicken and mammalian lymphocyte cultures are discussed.