In Vitro Responses of Urodele Lymphoid Cells: Mitogenic and Mixed Lymphocyte Culture Reactivities

Abstract

In vitro studies of lymphocytes activated by mitogens and allogeneic cells have provided valuable information about the immunologic function of this cell type. In the Amphibia, such studies have been restricted to cells from anurans (1, 2). There are substantive immunologic differences between the order, Urodela (salamanders), and the phylogenetically more advanced order, Anura (frogs and toads) which relate to increased complexity of the lymphoid system, increased number of immunoglobulin classes, and rapidity of graft rejection (3–6). Such differences have made us aware of the pitfalls of generalizing about the immunologic capability of a vertebrate class from data collected from one order. Thus, to understand the biology of the amphibian lymphocyte and the evolution of immunity within this pivotal class of vertebrates, it is necessary to characterize the lymphocytes from salamanders in terms of the kinetics and magnitude of their responses to mitogens. To better understand the phylogeny of histocompatibility systems, it is necessary to analyze the reactivity of urodele lymphocytes in MLC. This paper presents our initial attempts to so characterize splenocytes and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) from representatives of the families Ambystomatidae and Salamandridae.