title: Role of mercaptoethanol and endotoxin in stimulating B lymphocyte colony formation in vitro.
abstract: Mercaptoethanol is necessary to permit B lymphocyte colony formation in semi-solid agar cultures of cells from normal mouse lymphoid organs. Transfer studies on developing colonies showed that, in part, this was a direct action on B lymphocyte colony cells but evidence was produced that in the presence of mercaptoethanol lymphoid organ cells release a factor promoting colony growth. Endotoxin strongly potentiated B lymphocyte colony formation in vitro by a direct action on colony cells but in the absence of mercaptoethanol did not allow cell survival or proliferation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D004731:Endotoxins; D008623:Mercaptoethanol