Bursa of Fabricius in Chickens: Possible Humoral Factor

Abstract

Chicks bursectomized by testosterone injection on the 5th day of incubation showed a marked inability to produce antibodies to Salmonella typhimurium. When portions of the bursa of Fabricius were enclosed in cell-impermeable Millipore diffusion chambers and implanted subcutaneously or intraperitoneally, the antibody-producing capacity of these animals was restored. Evidence strongly suggests that the bursa of Fabricius elaborates a non-cellular agent capable of restoring immunologic reactivity in bursectomized chicks.