Life-span, tumor incidence, and natural killer cell activity in mice selected for high or low antibody responsiveness.

Biozzi mice selected for high (H) or low (L) antibody responsiveness to natural antigens have been followed for their entire life-span to examine their pathology at death. As previously found in selection I, shorter life-span and higher lymphoma incidence were observed in L responder mice than in H responder mice selected for antibody responsiveness to sheep red blood cells (selection II). In mice selected for antibody responsiveness to Salmonella flagellar antigens (selection III), similar life-span and similar lymphoma incidence were found in H and L responder mice. Natural killer (NK) cell activity, as assessed in spleen cells from young mice, was lower in L than in H responder mice of selection I but higher in L than in H responder mice of both selections II and III. All these results indicate that longevity and lymphoma incidence at death are independent of NK cell activity in mice selected for H or L antibody responsiveness to natural antigens. Furthermore, genetic selection for antibody responsiveness does not always appear to influence life-span and lymphoma incidence.