The transformation in vitro of peripheral lymphocytes of some laboratory animals.

The peripheral lymphocytes of monkeys, rabbits, guinea-pigs, hamsters, rats and mice were transformed in culture by phytohaemagglutinin and staphylococcal filtrate. The response was most marked with the peripheral lymphocytes of monkeys and rabbits and least marked with rat and mouse lymphocytes. The response occurred earlier with rabbit and guinea-pig than human lymphocytes. The short life span of rat and mouse lymphocytes adversely affected their response. The tritiated thymidine uptake of the stimulated lymphocytes of the various species was also limited by their rate of survival over the culture period. Attempts to obtain antigen-specific stimulation of peripheral rabbit and guinea-pig lymphocytes were unsuccessful.