Assessment of antibody production in sex-linked and autosomal dwarf chickens.
The humoral immune response was examined in two dwarf and one control strain of Single Comb White Leghorn chicks. Circulating antibody levels in response to immunization with varying concentrations of sheep erythrocytes were determined following primary immunization and again following a secondary antigen challenge. The males of the sex-linked dwarf strain produced significantly less antibody to lower antigen dosages in both the primary and secondary response but as antigen dose was increased the humoral response was no longer depressed below that of the controls. The antibody response of females carrying the dw gene was not significantly impaired over the entire antigen dose range nor was that of either sex of the autosomal dwarf strain. Similar results were obtained when the numbers of splenic plaque-forming cells (PFC's) were examined. However, in this assay both the males and females of the sex-linked dwarf strain demonstrated significantly impaired plaque-forming activity. No differences were found between the control and autosomal dwarf strains in their ability to generate PFC's.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D009154:Mutation; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology