BREED-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN THE LYMPHOCYTE TRANSFORMATION IN RAMS

Abstract

The development of cell-mediated immunity in rams was analyzed by the breed-dependent patterns of the responsiveness of peripheral blood lymphocytes to common mitogens (phytohemagglutinin, PHA; concanavalin A, ConA; poke-weed mitogen, PWM), in a mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC), in order to establish the basic immune parameters in clinically normal rams. Investigations were carried out on 26 rams from the breeds Karakachan and Copper-Red Shoumen. It was established that there are close differences between proliferative activity of lymphocytes of the two groups of animals. The immune parameters obtained for the two local sheep breeds may serve as a basis for further research on lamb systemic immune responsiveness regarding differences among breeds.