Impaired mitogen responses in lambs with white muscle disease.

Lymphocytes from healthy lambs produced vigorous but variable responses to phytolectins when tested in whole blood culture. Differences between groups with low glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activities and groups supplemented with selenium were not significant. However, animals with low GSHPx activities and white muscle disease reacted feebly to mitogen. No correlation was found between levels of GSHPx activity and the numbers of leucocytes in the circulation.