The Influence of Selecting for Large and Small Bursa Size on Adrenal, Spleen, and Thymus Weights

Abstract

IT WAS in 1954 that Chang and Glick working with chickens bursectomized by Glick were confronted with the rather startling discovery that the bursa of Fabricius was of prime importance in antibody formation. Since the first two papers by Glick et al. (1956), and Chang et al. (1957), significant publications on the role of the bursa in immunological competence have appeared in laboratories throughout the world, Glick (1964) and Warner and Szenberg (1964). Bursa growth has been found to be significantly influenced by the breed, strain, and family of chickens studied, Glick (1964). The first heritability estimates for bursa size were calculated by Glick (1955a, b; 1956a). These were followed by the study of Jaap (1960). Successful selection for large bursa size was reported by Temple and Jaap (1961). In 1957, we initiated a breeding program designed to develop two lines of chickens which would differ significantly in bursa size… .