PHAGOCYTIC-ACTIVITY OF 2 LINES OF CHICKENS DIVERGENTLY SELECTED FOR ANTIBODY-PRODUCTION

Differences in phagocytic capacity of two chicken lines selected for h igh (H) or low (L) antibody response against sheep red blood cells (SR BC) were studied in 8 month old cocks of the seventh selection generat ion. The H line cocks had significantly higher agglutinin titers after immunization with SRBC than the L line. The total clearance capacity of the phagocytes, measured by the clearance of carbon particles from the blood, did not differ between the lines. The L line cocks had more circulating granulocytes. However, the granulocytes of the H line pha gocytized more yeast cells than those of the L line. Neither in immuni zed nor in non-immunized cocks, were line differences found in the int racellular destruction of antigen by phagocytes, estimated as the supe roxide production during phagocytosis and the plasma levels of lysozym e activity and acid phosphatase, before and after immunization. It was concluded that the line difference in antibody response was not due t o measurable differences in phagocytic activity.