An investigation on rabbit antibodies by the use of partition chromatography

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The technique of partition chromatography was used to study the antibodies in gamma-globulin taken from rabbits at different stages of immunization with various antigens. When formalin-killed pneumococci type III, alum-precipitated ovalbumin, or influenza virus were given intravenously, precipitating or hemagglutin-inhibiting antibodies were found exclusively in the more slowly running fractions during the earlier stages of immunization, but predominantly in the middle fractions at later stages. By simultaneous intravenous immunization of animals against 2 antigens, independent patterns of response occurred for each antiboby. The position of the antibody in the fractions is a function of the immunological history of the animal and not of the antibody level in the serum. In gamma-globulin from rabbits immunized by intramuscular injection with an adjuvant mixture, the antibody occurred in the more slowly running fractions throughout. The combining ratio of antigen with antibody was somewhat greater in the faster than in the more slowly running fractions. In the case of antihen ovalbumin antibodies, the extent of cross-reaction with duck ovalbumin was similar in all fractions. The findings suggest that different cells, capable of producing slightly different globulins, may predominate in antibody production according to the route of injection and duration of the antigenic stimulus.

This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit: