Characterization of Stimulator cells in the Caprine Primary Mixed Lympocyte Reaction and Oxidative Mitogenesis

Primary mixed leucocyte reaction and oxidative mitogenesis are the two most common and reliable assay systems used to demonstrate the stimulating capacity of antigen presenting cells. Mitomycin C treated and not treated macrophages (MF) and B cells were used as stimulator to the T cells which were treated with sodium periodate (oxidative mitogenesis) or without treatment (Mixed leucocyte reaction, MLR). The magnitude of proliferation associated with MF and B cell function in oxidative mitogenesis was at least 2-fold higher than MLR. Both B cells and MF did not vary much in their ability as accessory cells in MLR as well as in oxidative mitogenesis. Mitomycin C treated or untreated stimulator cells had similar effect.