A modified technique for assaying avian immunoglobulin-M-secreting cells.

A localized complement-dependent hemolytic assay in modified Cunningham chambers for enumerating avian immunoglobulin-M (IgM)-secreting spleen cells is defined. The maximum number of IgM-secreting spleen cells was present six days after sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) were injected. Intra-abdominal injection of SRBCs resulted in greater but more variable numbers of IgM-secreting cells at the time of maximum response than did either intramuscular or intravenous injection. Fresh chicken serum (FCS) with 10% guinea pig serum was an equally or more effective source of complement for the assay than was FCS alone.