Antibody secretion and viability of LPS-stimulated wild-type and ATF6α-deficient B cells. Splenic B cells were isolated from Atf6a+/+ and Atf6a−/− mice and cultured in the presence of LPS. (A) On the indicated days, cells were harvested, washed and replated at equivalent densities for either 2 or 3 h. Culture supernatants were then collected and assessed for IgM content by ELISA; data are plotted as the amount of IgM secreted by 5×105 cells/ml/h (mean ± S.D., n = 5). (B) At the indicated intervals, cell viability was assessed by trypan blue dye exclusion (mean ± S.D., n ≥ 5 for each interval).