Effect of Cold Exposure on the Metabolism of Immunoglobulins in Rabbits

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effect of low environmental temperature on the metabolism of IgG and IgM was examined in unimmunized rabbits. The half-lives of both IgG and IgM were less in animals kept at 4°C for 6 weeks than in animals kept at 22°C. Serum concentrations of IgM and IgG were unaltered by cold exposure but intravascular pool sizes tended to increase as a consequence of an expanded serum volume. Fractional turnover rates of both IgM and IgG were greater in cold-exposed animals. At both 4°C and 22°C, the fractional catabolic rate of IgM was independent of its serum concentration whereas that of IgG was correlated directly with its serum concentration. Absolute turnover of both IgM and IgG was accelerated by cold exposure. It is suggested that increased synthesis of immunoglobulin could account for the higher levels of antibody reportedly found in cold-exposed rabbits.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: