Primary in vitro stimulation of antibody production by rainbow trout lymphocytes.

Trinitrophenylated (TNP) forms of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) were used to produce antigen specific plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses with rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) splenocytes from unprimed fish in vitro. The culture system that was developed is described and characterized with respect to the kinetics and dose responses for both the haptenated and unhaptenated forms of the carriers. The induction of the PFC response to TNP-LPS was inhibited with TNP-lysine. Exposure to graded levels of gamma-radiation demonstrated a low dose augmentation of the PFC response with both antigens. Antigen addition experiments reveal that both antigens appear to stimulate the same population of antibody-producing B lymphocytes.