Abstract
It has been reported by King (in press) that autogenous serum extracts of bone marrow promoted a more prompt and vigorous migration of lymphocytes, as compared with a saline extract of chick embryo, in cultures of mesenteric lymph node of the adult rabbit. It was also stated that the serum extract was definitely inferior to the saline extract as a coagulant for heparinized plasma.
Stenstrom and King 1 have reported the first study of a series on the effects of radiation of lymph node fragments. The next study is to be a more detailed consideration, the response of lymphocytes to radiation in such cultures. Since the response is prompt and since the characteristic activity of lymphocytes in such preparations is early, attempts were made to determine the medium of choice for promoting a prompt and vigorous lymphocyte migration.
The results of the comparison of the extracts referred to above encouraged further study to determine whether the desirable migration-promoting properties of serum marrow extract might be combined with the desirable coagulant properties of the saline embryo extract. To this end a study was made comparing saline and serum extracts of chick embryo.
In general technique followed was that described by King. 2 The mesenteric lymph node was removed promptly on stopping the circulation. It was fragmented quickly in saline. The fragments were chosen in pairs, one of each pair being planted in each series. Attention was given to size, shape and color when choosing the fragments.
Blood was drawn into sterile heparin solution in such manner that 3 or 4 different concentrations of heparin were obtained. In this way a sensitive plasma was obtained.
Serum was obtained by drawing blood into a tube containing pieces of hard glass.
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