Precipitin production in chickens. XVL The relationship of age to antibody production.

Abstract

Summary 1.The antibody response of chickens of various ages and different breeds to a single injection of bovine serum albumin was studied. The response is expressed as micrograms nitrogen per ml serum. 2.Statistically significant increases in response occurred between 6 and 12 weeks and between 12 and 22 weeks. 3.The average titer of 56-week-old birds was greater than the 22-week-old animals but the difference was not statistically significant. 4.Three- to 8-year-old animals gave high titered antisera. 5.There were large variations in antibody response in all age groups. 6.A statistically significant difference due to breed was found only in the 6-week-old chickens. 7.The responses of the males were not significantly different from those of the females.