Parameters influencing chicken T-cell response to mitogens.

Several factors significantly influenced lymphocyte response to PHA stimulation in standard cell culture systems. Optimal response was obtained with the lymphocyte concentration at about 1.5 X 10(6) cells. Cultures with or without serum did not differ greatly in PHA response at lower lymphocyte concentrations. However, serum was inhibitory at higher lymphocyte concentrations. Addition of erythrocytes (1-10 X 10(6)) was beneficial for lower cell concentrations but deleterious for higher concentrations. The temperature of incubation giving optimal PHA response was 41 degrees C.