Comparative Immunology: Serum Complement of Freshwater Fishes

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Abstract
Channel catfish, bigmouth buffalo, goldfish, longnose gar, bowfin, paddlefish, and sturgeon were investigated for the presence of hemolytic complement using several heterologous erythrocyte systems. All species exhibited hemolytic activities similar to a guinea pig complement‐rabbit antibody system in their reactions to heat, EDTA, hydrazine, and carrageenin. Pooled complement titers ranged from 9.2–49.0 CˈH50 units. Reference lamprey serum was hemolytically inactive. Sephadex fractionation of longnose gar serum showed hemolytic components present in both 19 S and 8 S protein peaks. Results suggested that complement systems in these species resembled mammalian complement. No marked differences in complement‐forming ability were observed between these species of fish in relation to their phylogenetic position.

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