Genetic differences in the mitogenic response of peripheral blood lymphocytes in the chicken.

The mitogenic responses of chicken peripheral blood lymphocytes were compared in two partially inbred chicken lines and in their hybrids. The lymphocytes of line P chickens showed a higher phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) response than those of line V chickens and (P X V)F1 hybrids. The Con A responses were of the same magnitude in all chicken lines. The higher PHA response in line P chickens was not sex-linked, apparently was not associated with the major histocompatibility complex and it did not correlate with immunoglobulin G allotypes.