[Changes in lymphoblastic transformation in preleukemic AKR/J mice].

The authors investigate the efficacy of the immune system along the AKR/J mouse life span. They employ the phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced lymphoblastic transformation test. The response is compared with the immune response obtained in BALB/C mice of the corresponding age. The blastic transformation was significatively lower at 15, 25 and 35 weeks in the AKR/J mouse than in the BALB/C mouse. At the age of 45 weeks the AKR/J mouse shows an increased proportion of lymphocytes in the thymus and spleen, a weight increase of these organs, and an augmented lymphoblastic transformation in response to PHA. This phenomena are not observed in the BALB/C mouse. When macrophages are removed from the lymphocytes preparation, the PHA-induced blastic transformation of lymphocytes is not produced at any age in either AKR/J or BALB/C mice strains.