ESA’s Space-Based Doppler Wind Lidar Mission Aeolus – First Wind and Aerosol Product Assessment Results

The European Space Agency (ESA) wind mission, Aeolus, hosts the first space-based Doppler Wind Lidar (DWL) world-wide. The primary mission objective is to demonstrate the DWL technique for measuring wind profiles from space, intended for assimilation in Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models. The wind observations will also be used to advance atmospheric dynamics research and for evaluation of climate models. Mission spin-off products are profiles of cloud and aerosol optical properties. Aeolus was launched on 22 August 2018, and the Atmospheric LAser Doppler INstrument (Aladin) instrument switch-on was completed with first high energy output in wind mode on 4 September 2018 [1], [2]. The on-ground data processing facility worked excellent, allowing L2 product output in near-real-time from the start of the mission. First results from the wind profile product (L2B) assessment show that the winds are of very high quality, with random errors in the free Troposphere within (cloud/aerosol backscatter winds: 2.1 m/s) and larger (molecular backscatter winds: 4.3 m/s) than the requirements (2.5 m/s), but still allowing significant positive impact in first preliminary NWP impact experiments. The higher than expected random errors at the time of writing are amongst others due to a lower instrument out-and input photon budget than designed. The instrument calibration is working well, and some of the data processing steps are currently being refined to allow to fully correct instrument alignment related drifts and elevated detector dark currents causing biases in the first data product version. The optical properties spin-off product (L2A) is being compared e.g. to NWP model clouds, air quality model forecasts, and collocated ground-based observations. Features including optically thick and thin particle and hydrometeor layers are clearly identified and are being validated.

Spatial memory is impaired by peripubertal GnRH agonist treatment and testosterone replacement in sheep

Chronic gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) is used therapeutically to block activity within the reproductive axis through down-regulation of GnRH receptors within the pituitary gland. GnRH receptors are also expressed in non-reproductive tissues, including areas of the brain such as the hippocampus and amygdala. The impact of long-term GnRHa-treatment on hippocampus-dependent cognitive functions, such as spatial orientation, learning and memory, is not well studied, particularly when treatment encompasses a critical window of development such as puberty. The current study used an ovine model to assess spatial maze performance and memory of rams that were untreated (Controls), had both GnRH and testosterone signaling blocked (GnRHa-treated), or specifically had GnRH signaling blocked (GnRHa-treated with testosterone replacement) during the peripubertal period (8, 27 and 41 weeks of age). The results demonstrate that emotional reactivity during spatial tasks was compromised by the blockade of gonadal steroid signaling, as seen by the restorative effects of testosterone replacement, while traverse times remained unchanged during assessment of spatial orientation and learning. The blockade of GnRH signaling alone was associated with impaired retention of long-term spatial memory and this effect was not restored with the replacement of testosterone signaling. These results indicate that GnRH signaling is involved in the retention and recollection of spatial information, potentially via alterations to spatial reference memory, and that therapeutic medical treatments using chronic GnRHa may have effects on this aspect of cognitive function.

The effect of virus dose on the development of Marek's disease in two strains of chickens

The effect of inoculating different doses of Marek's disease virus on the consequent lymphocyte-associated viraemia titres, survival time and mortality was studied in two strains of chickens, one highly susceptible (a strain of Rhode Island Red) and one moderately resistant (a strain of Light Sussex) to Marek's disease. In both strains an increase in the infecting dose of virus increased the ensuing viraemia, and there was an inverse relationship between virus dose and survival time. There was a negative correlation between viraemia titres and survival time. The modulation of infecting dose had no effect on overall mortality among the susceptible, Rhode Island Red strain, chickens, but did influence the mortality of the Light Sussex strain chickens. It was suggested that the outcome of infection within an individual may be determined by a rather subtle interaction between the infection and transformation of a limiting number of target cells and an immune response directed against such infected or transformed cells, and that in different breeds of chickens these two factors may differ in importance.

Performance after cochlear implantation: a comparison of children deafened by meningitis and congenitally deaf children

The speech perception and speech production performance following cochlear implantation of congenitally deaf children and children deafened by meningitis were analysed. Three groups consisting of 70 congenitally deaf children, 22 children deafened by meningitis before two years of age and 14 children deafened by meningitis after two years of age were compared. The group deafened by meningitis after two years of age demonstrated significantly better speech perception than the other two groups. Their speech production appeared better but did not achieve statistical significance compared with the other two groups. There was no significant difference in either speech perception or speech production between the congenitally deaf group and the group deafened by meningitis before two years of age.

Characteristics of protein and energy metabolism in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis--a pilot study

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

It is assumed that neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) are hypermetabolic. However, the dynamics of protein and energy metabolism in neonates with NEC have not been characterized. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that protein turnover and energy expenditure are increased during the acute stage of NEC and later return to normal values.

METHODS

A pilot study was performed on six neonates with proven NEC (Bell's stage II or III). Patients were studied in two phases: (1) in the acute stage of their disease and (2) when their clinical condition had stabilized. Whole-body protein turnover was calculated using an intravenous infusion of [1-13C] leucine and by measuring the isotopic enrichment of plasma [13C]alpha-ketoisocaproic acid and 13CO2. Respiratory gas exchange was measured simultaneously by computerized indirect calorimetry.

RESULTS

Median gestational age was 36 weeks (range, 28 to 40) with a median postnatal age of 21 days (range, 6 to 47). All patients recovered from the acute episode, although three patients died after recovering from the acute disease from other conditions. The patients studied showed marked variability in protein metabolism kinetics. However, there was no difference in whole-body protein flux between the acute phase (7.6 g/kg/d; range, 5.6 to 18.2) and the recovery phase (7.0 g/kg/d; range, 6.9 to 12.2; P = .89). Furthermore, there was no difference in any of the component parts of wholebody protein turnover. Resting energy expenditure did not change between the acute phase (42.8 kcal/kg/d; range, 34.4 to 52.5) and the recovery phase (51.0 kcal/kg/d; range, 34.9 to 55.3; P = .18).

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot study shows that the rates of protein and energy metabolism in neonates with NEC are comparable with reported values in stable neonates. There was no difference in protein or energy dynamics between study phases. The authors speculate that neonates with NEC may divert the products of protein synthesis from growth to tissue repair.

Effect of major abdominal operations on energy and protein metabolism in infants and children

PURPOSE

The authors attempted to test the hypothesis that infants and children increase whole-body protein flux and energy metabolism during the early postoperative period.

METHODS

Ten infants and children (age range, 2 days to 3 years; weight range, 1.5 to 14.2 kg) who had undergone a major operation were studied. Anaesthesia was standardised, and operative stress score (OSS) recorded. Patients were studied for 4 hours preoperatively and for the first 6 hours after surgery. Respiratory gas exchange was measured by computerised indirect calorimetry. The components of whole-body protein turnover were estimated by giving an intravenous infusion of [1-13C]leucine, and by measuring the isotopic enrichment of plasma [13C]alpha-ketoisocaproic acid by gas chromatograph mass spectrometry and 13CO2 enrichment by isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Median duration of the operation was 73.5 minutes (range, 28 to 285 minutes) with a OSS of 8 (range, 7-17). There were no significant differences in oxygen consumption and resting energy expenditure between the two study phases. The respiratory quotient (RQ) fell from a preoperative value of 0.92 (range, 0.81 to 1.08) to 0.89 (range, 0.79 to 0.95) postoperatively (P = .04). The authors found no significant differences in the rates of whole body protein flux, protein synthesis, amino acid oxidation, and protein degradation between the study phases.

CONCLUSIONS

Infants and children do not increase their whole-body protein turnover and metabolic rate after major operations. The observed decrease in RQ reflects mobilisation of endogenous fat. We speculate that the lack of catabolism observed in children is caused by a diversion of protein synthesis from growth to tissue repair.

Marek's disease virus EcoRI-Q gene (meq) and a small RNA antisense to ICP4 are abundantly expressed in CD4+ cells and cells carrying a novel lymphoid marker, AV37, in Marek's disease lymphomas

Mature lymphomas produced in Rhode Island Red (RIR) chickens infected with the RB1B strain of Marek's disease virus (MDV) were examined for the presence of viral DNA and RNA and expression of viral antigens. In situ hybridization showed that all tumours examined contained viral DNA in areas of lymphoid infiltration. In 3/5 tumours, there was a correlation between the number and distribution of cells expressing the Marek's disease EcoRI-Q gene (meq) and those that carried the lymphoid cell marker AV37. Expression of the MDV-specific phosphoprotein pp38 was infrequent in lymphomas but abundant in a splenic tumour which also expressed the viral glycoprotein gB. Northern blot analysis of lymphocyte fractions purified by immunoaffinity showed that CD4+ and AV37+ fractions from lymphomas expressed meq and the small RNA antisense to ICP4 (SAR). The results are consistent with the notion that transformed cells are CD4+ cells, carrying the AV37 marker and expressing meq and SAR.

Quantification of Marek's disease virus in chicken lymphocytes using the polymerase chain reaction with fluorescence detection

A quantitative assay was developed for Marek's disease virus (MDV). The assay determines the numbers of viral genomes present in samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a portion of the viral genome for a restricted number of cycles. Fluorescent-tagged primers are used for the PCR amplification which allows quantification of the fluorescent product. Previously, quantitation of Marek's disease virus has required plaque assays, which are laborious and potentially error-prone, and this had limited quantitative comparisons. The PCR assay is rapid, less laborious and can be applied to high levels of accuracy, since replicate assays can be carried out relatively easily. The PCR-based assay assesses the number of viral genomes present in the sample, rather than the numbers of infected cells measured in the plaque assay, however correlation between the two assays is high, suggesting viral copy number per cell may be rather uniform. In crosses between genetically resistant and susceptible animals the PCR-based assay was correlated significantly with subsequent development of disease, and was a better predictor than the plaque assay of the likelihood of development of pathological disease in the birds studied.

Apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele is a risk factor for familial and sporadic presenile Alzheimer's disease in both homozygote and heterozygote carriers

While apoliprotein E (ApoE) epsilon 4 allele is now a well established risk factor for familial and sporadic senile Alzheimer's disease (AD), its role in the development of the rarer presenile or early onset type is controversial. Early studies showed no association; later ones found enrichment for the epsilon 4 allele in familial or sporadic types or both. We have ApoE genotyped a series of Scottish people (n = 85) with early onset AD. We find highly significant enrichment for both homozygote and heterozygote ApoE epsilon 4 allele carriers in familial and sporadic early onset AD with a pattern closely resembling that in late onset AD.

DETERMINATION OF PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN RAINBOW TROUT, ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS, USING A STABLE ISOTOPE

It has been suggested (Houlihan, 1991) that the consumption of 1 g of protein in a variety of species of fish stimulates the synthesis of, approximately, an equal amount of protein. Although synthesis of protein may account for as much as 40 % of the whole-animal oxygen consumption (Lyndon et al. 1992), only about 30 % of the synthesized proteins are retained as growth (Houlihan et al. 1988; Carter et al. 1993a,b). Thus, one focus of attention is the potential advantage gained by fish in allocating a considerable proportion of assimilated energy to protein turnover in contrast to relatively low-cost, low-turnover protein growth (Houlihan et al. 1993). Rates of protein synthesis in several species of fish have been measured using radioactively labelled amino acids, frequently given as a flooding dose (reviewed by Fauconneau, 1985; Houlihan, 1991). These measurements cannot be made for longer than a few hours because of the decline in specific radioactivity in the amino acid free pool. However, as protein synthesis rates vary during the course of a day as a result of the post-prandial stimulation, and since radiolabelled amino acid methodology is invasive, short-term and terminal, it has been difficult to be certain of the relationship between protein growth measured in the long term and protein synthesis rates measured in the short term. This paper addresses these problems by developing a method using 15N in orally administered protein to measure protein synthesis rates in fish over relatively long periods, the aim being to use procedures that are as non-invasive and repeatable as possible. The use of stable isotopes to measure protein metabolism is well established in terrestrial mammals (see Rennie et al. 1991; Wolfe, 1992), but to our knowledge the only published data for aquatic ectotherms are on the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) (Hawkins, 1985). In the present study, rates of protein synthesis of individual rainbow trout [Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)] were calculated from the enrichment of excreted ammonia with 15N over the 48 h following the feeding of a single meal (dose) containing protein uniformly labelled with 15N by use of an end-point stochastic model (Waterlow et al. 1978; Wolfe, 1992). Application of this type of modelling would appear to be ideal for measuring ammonotelic fish nitrogen metabolism since, unlike the situation in mammals, the catabolic flux of amino acids through urea is very small. Further, ammonia is excreted directly into the surrounding water via the gills and is not stored for any length of time, in contrast to the situation in mammals, so the rate of tracer appearance is easily measurable.

Morphine- and naltrexone-induced modification of palatability: analysis by the taste reactivity test

We used the taste reactivity (TR) test, a direct measure of the hedonic properties of a tastant, to assess in Sprague-Dawley rats the ability of morphine (an opiate agonist) and naltrexone (an opiate antagonist) to modify the palatability of a bitter quinine solution and a sweet sucrose solution. Morphine reduced the aversive hedonic properties of both novel and familiar quinine solution (0.05% and 0.1%) but did not modify the palatability of 20% sucrose solution. Naltrexone reduced the positive hedonic properties of sucrose solution (2% and 20%) but did not modify the palatability of 0.05% quinine solution. The pattern of results suggests that the modification of feeding produced by opiate agonists and antagonists may be mediated by an hedonic shift in the palatability of the tastant.

Naltrexone-induced aversions: assessment by place conditioning, taste reactivity, and taste avoidance paradigms

The reinforcing/aversive properties of various doses of naltrexone (0.01, 1, and 10 mg/kg) were assessed in three experiments that employed place conditioning, taste reactivity, and taste avoidance paradigms. Naltrexone produced a place aversion and a taste aversion, but did not produce aversive taste reactivity responses, even at the highest dose (10 mg/kg) tested. This suggests that drugs that produce a place aversion do not necessarily produce a conditional dislike for a flavored solution with which they are paired.

Morphine- and naltrexone-induced modification of palatability: Analysis by the taste reactivity test

We used the taste reactivity (TR) test, a direct measure of the hedonic properties of a tastant, to assess in Sprague-Dawley rats the ability of morphine (an opiate agonist) and naltrexone (an opiate antagonist) to modify the palatability of a bitter quinine solution and a sweet sucrose solution. Morphine reduced the aversive hedonic properties of both novel and familiar quinine solution (0.05% and 0.1%) but did not modify the palatability of 20% sucrose solution. Naltrexone reduced the positive hedonic properties of sucrose solution (2% and 20%) but did not modify the palatability of 0.05% quinine solution. The pattern of results suggests that the modification of feeding produced by opiate agonists and antagonists may be mediated by an hedonic shift in the palatability of the tastant.

Coccidiosis: rapid depletion of circulating lymphocytes after challenge of immune chickens with parasite antigens

Characteristic changes in the numbers of peripheral blood leukocytes occurred after specific challenge of chickens immunized by infection with the intracellular intestinal coccidian parasite Eimeria maxima. Within minutes of enteric or intravenous challenge with viable parasites or with soluble parasite antigen, the numbers of circulating lymphocytes and, to a lesser extent, of heterophils were reduced. This was followed by a period of leukocytosis, the main cellular constituents of which were heterophils and lymphocytes. Indirect fluorescent staining with antisera to T- or B-lymphocytes showed the depletion in lymphocytes to be accounted for mainly by a reduction in the number of T-cells. The leukopenia after oral challenge, found in immunized birds, could be transferred to normal birds by the intravenous injection of serum, plasma, extracts of leukocytes, or suspensions of viable spleen cells.

Studies on the role of macrophages in Marek's disease of the chicken

Macrophage activity in relation to Marek's disease was investigated by determining phagocytic indices in vivo and by examining virus plaque-inhibiting activity of peritoneal macrophages in vitro. No correlation was observed between phagocytic index and resistance in different genetic strains of chickens. Infection with Marek's disease virus increased both phagocytic indices and the plaque-inhibiting activity of peritoneal macrophages, more so in susceptible than in resistant chickens. There was an association between increased macrophage activity and virus replication, and it is suggested that the enhancement of macrophage activity results from activation indirectly caused by the presence of Marek's disease virus or viral antigens.

Effect of exercise on protein metabolism in humans as explored with stable isotopes

Exercising for 3.75 h on a treadmill at 50% VO2 max in the fed state induced an increased excretion of 71 mg nitrogen/kg over the 18 h after exercise. However, measurements of the time course of changes in 13CO2 excretion from ingested [1-13C]leucine indicated that all of this increased nitrogen production occurs during the exercise period. Because of the reduced renal clearance and slow turnover of the urea pool, urea excretion lags behind urea production. Measurements of nitrogen flux from the plateau labeling of urinary ammonia achieved by repeated oral doses of 15N-labeled glycine indicated that the nitrogen loss resulted from an increase in protein degradation and a decrease in protein synthesis. Further studies with [1-13C]leucine indicated that a 2-h treadmill exercise induced an increase in the nitrogen loss from 5.4 to 16 mg . kg-1 . h-1 measured with a primed constant infusion of [1-13C]leucine. This resulted from a fall in whole-body protein synthesis. Glucose given at the rate of 0.88 g . kg-1 . h-1 depressed the rate of whole-body protein degradation and appeared to suppress the exercise-induced increase in nitrogen excretion. When leucine oxidation rates were measured at increasing work rates, a linear relationship between percentage of VO2 max and leucine oxidation was observed up to 89% VO2 max when 54% of the flux of leucine was oxidized. These changes may involve nonmuscle as well as muscle tissue. Thus the source of the increased nitrogen losses is probably liver. In muscle, protein degradation is actually decreased judged by methylhistidine excretion, whereas in liver, protein degradation may be increased. Also the fall in whole-body protein synthesis may reflect changes in nonmuscle tissues because in running rats protein synthesis in muscle is maintained. As far as leucine metabolism is concerned, because the increase in leucine oxidation occurs when leucine and its keto acid concentration falls, exercise must specifically activate the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase.

The mechanism of genetic resistance to Marek's disease in chickens

Genetic resistance to Marek's disease in RPL line-6 chickens is expressed not only at the level of host immunological responses against virus an tumour antigens, but also at the level of target lymphoid cells for virus infection and transformation. The nature of the target cell involved was investigated. Spleen cells from susceptible line-7 chickens adsorbed more Marek's disease virus and turkey herpesvirus in vitro than line-6 spleen cells. In the case of Marek's disease virus this was reflected in the replicative ability of the virus in vivo. Transplantation of thymus fragments from 1-day-old line-7 chickens into thymectomized line-6 chickens conferred a high degree of susceptibility on the latter, but the transplantation of spleen or fragments had no significant effect. The reverse procedure, i.e. grafting of line-6 thymi into line-7 chickens, did not diminish the susceptibility of the recipients. In each treatment group the observed titres of leukocyte-associated viraemia correlated with the susceptibility of the group to Marek's disease. Histologically the grafted thymus fragments became depleted of lymphocytes immediately after transplantation. By 6 days there was substantial recovery, apparently as a result of re-population of the thymic epithelium by host stem cells. This was confirmed by transplanting thymus fragments between individuals of opposite sexes. Karyotype analysis showed that the thymus contained lymphocytes of the sex of the recipient. However, karyotype analysis of lymphoma cells taken from recipient line-6 chickens that had received thymus grafts from line-7 birds of the opposite sex showed that, in the majority of cases, the lymphomas consisted of cells of donor origin. It is concluded that the susceptibility of line-7 chickens is largely attributable to the greater susceptibility of their T-lymphocytes to infection and transformation by Marek's disease virus, and that this susceptibility can be transferred to genetically resistant line-6 birds by adoptive transfer of the cells in the form of thymus fragments.

Use of an agar culture technique for establishing lymphoid cell lines from Marek's disease lymphomas

Lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from Marek's disease (MD) lymphomas have been established with difficulty by a number of workers. We have compared with conventional liquid culture methods the efficiency of a new technique for establishing lymphoid cell lines in which lymphoma cells were cultured initially in agar medium. Cells from 39/79 lymphomas gave rise to loose lymphoid colonies in the seeded agar after 7 days' incubation at 41 degrees C. Two types of macrophage colony also developed. When lymphoid colonies in agar were transferred to liquid culture, 23/39 gave rise to permanent lymphoid cell lines, compared with 8/33 comparable cultures initiated in liquid medium. Twenty-nine new cell lines have been developed from Rhode Island Red, line 6 and line 7 chickens. All carry T-cell markers and the MD tumour-associated surface antigen (MATSA) and showed variable but low responsiveness to lectin mitogens. The new cell lines, when first established, consisted mainly of small, lymphocytoid cells, but, after varying times, these changed into typical lymphoblastoid lines and an increased expression of an embryonic antigen was associated with this change. The lymphocytoid line cells were more slowly growing and density-dependent than were the lymphoblastoid cells, and lymphocytoid lines grew better at 41 degrees C and lymphoblastoid lines better at 37 degrees C. MD virus could be rescued from some of the lines but others appeared to be true non-producers.

Nature of genetic resistance to Marek's disease in chickens

Infection of line 6 resistant and line 7 susceptible chickens with Marek's disease virus (MDV) resulted in a depressed phytohemagglutinin (PHA) response and the presence of Marek's disease (MD) tumor-associated surface antigen (MATSA) in the spleens. At 6-10 weeks after infection, recovery in PHA response, diminution in the number of MATSA cells, and the presence of significant anti-MATSA immunity were observed in line 6 but not in line 7 chickens. Both lines had antibody-dependent cell-mediated antiviral immunity, but T-cell-mediated antiviral immunity was detected only in line 6 and the surviving line 7 chickens. Lymphoproliferative lesions were found only in line 7 chickens, an virus titers were significantly higher in line 7 than in line 6 chickens and embryos. Lymphoid organ weights and the number of lymphocytes of line 6 were significantly lower than those of line 7. These data suggests that resistance to MD in line 6 chickens was due to a) a deficiency in the aggregate number of target lymphocytes, b) a restriction in the ability to lymphocytes to nonproductively replicate MDV, and c) the involvement of cellular antiviral and antitumor immune responses.

The effect of bursectomy on the adoptive transfer of resistance to Marek's disease

Immunization with inactivated viral antigens protected chickens against Marek's disease. Non-immunized chickens could be protected by injections of spleen cells but not of serum from immunized, histocompatible donors. Chickens rendered agamma-globulinaemic by bursectomy and irradiation could also be immunized against Marek's disease by inoculation with viral antigens, but spleen cells from these immunized, bursectomized and irradiated donors did not confer protection on the recipients into which they were injected. It was concluded that, although in the bursectomized, immunized donors cell-mediated immunity alone was able to provide a fair degree of protection against Marek's disease, the protection afforded against the disease by spleen-cell transfer was at least partly attributable to the transfer of antibody-producing cells, and that humoral immunity, while not being an absolute requirement for resistance, is normally an important component of the resistance mechanism.

Marek's disease tumour-specific antigen induced by the herpesvirus of turkeys in vaccinated chickens

The herpesvirus of turkeys, a supposedly apathogenic virus commonly used for vaccination against Marek's disease, was found to induce Marek's disease tumour-specific antigens on spleen and peripheral blood lymphocytes in vaccinated chickens. Herpesvirus of turkeys may be able to induce the neoplastic transformation of lymphocytes and the consequential stimulation of an anti-tumour immune response may be an important component of vaccinal immunity.

Sequential changes in the numbers of B and T lymphocytes and other leukocytes in the blood in Marek's disease

Numbers of B, T and total lymphocytes, monocytes, heterophils, eosinophils and basophils have been examined in the peripheral blood of chickens between 2 and 42 days after infection with Marek's disease virus. During the stage of the acute restrictively productive virus infection of lymphoid tissues at 2-9 days after infection, absolute numbers of B cells, T cells, total lymphocytes and heterophils were increased, those of monocytes and eosinophils were decreased, and those of basophils were unchanged. The lymphoproliferative phase of the disease, from 21-42 days after infection leading to lymphoma formation, was accompanied by an increase in T cells, total lymphocytes and possibly eosinophils, and a decrease in B cells, monocytes, heterophils and basophils. The T-cell increase following infection occurred only in female birds, and there were more lymphomas in females than in males. The increase in lymphocytes in the blood of six birds with leukemia was mainly due to an increase in T cells, but in one bird B cells were also increased. Blast cells and atypical lymphoid cells were increased in leukemic birds. Regression coefficients were calculated between different pairs of leukocytes in infected and uninfected birds at different stages of the disease. Particularly noteworthy were the associations between B and T cell numbers, which indicated constant proportions of these cells irrespective of total numbers, possibly due to a common control mechanism.