[Lymphocyte reaction in schizophrenia patients to the phytomitogens, concanavalin and phytohemagglutinin]

The capability of the schizophrenic patients' lymphocytes and lymphocytes of healthy persons to respond to the stimulating action of T-mutagens -- concanavalin A and PHA -- was studied. The T-cell count was determined by the method of rosette formation; the influence of adhesive cells on the lymphocyte response to mitogens was ascertained. The response to both the mitogens in the patients' lymphocyte cultures was reduced as compared to control, and the T-cell count failed to differ from the normal. The removal of adhesive lymphocytes results in the disappearance of differences between the response of the patients' lymphocytes and normal lymphocytes to both the mitogens.