Antigen-induced in vitro lymphocyte blastogenesis in the rabbit: a T-cell response.

In vitro lymphocyte stimulation of sensitized rabbit lymphocytes to specific antigen (ovalbumin) was found to depend on thymic-dependent lymphocytes. This conclusion is based on an enhanced response upon enrichment with T lymphocytes by passage of lymphocytes through nylon wool, and on the elimination of the response after treatment of lymphocytes with complement and an antiserum to rabbit thymus cells prepared in a goat. Specificity of the antiserum was demonstrated by elimination of in vitro T-cell function and retention of in vitro B-cell functions.