A natural killer cell assay for the mink using a mouse lymphoma as the target cell line.

: A natural killer cell assay was developed for the mink (Mustela vison) using mink peripheral mononuclear cells as effector cells and a mouse lymphoma cell line as targets. Baseline levels of natural killer cell activity were established in fertile mutation mink, primary infertile dark mink and secondary infertile dark mink with autoimmune orchitis. Blood samples were taken from dark mink at the end of March and from mutation mink during the first 2 weeks in April. Statistically significant differences in activity were noted between color phases and among groups. The possibility of genetic and/or seasonal differences in natural killer cell activity is discussed.