Heterogeneity of the antibody response of rabbits immunized with acrylic particle-bovine serum albumin complexes.

  • 1 October 1968
    • journal article
    • Vol. 15  (4) , 481-92
Abstract
Prolonged synthesis of IgM, as well as increased levels of IgG and another, probably IgA, class of antibody to bovine serum albumin was observed after multiple injections of rabbits with antigen-coated acrylic particles. IgM and IgG antibodies appeared to be synthesized nearly simultaneously. The class of antibody designated as IgA appeared to be synthesized later or after more extensive antigenic stimulation. Detection of IgA was often difficult since many of its properties were intermediate to and overlapped with those of the other two major immunoglobulin classes. The data presented, therefore, indicated additional, commonly occurring heterogeneity of the antibody response of the rabbit to particle-bound antigen. It is likely that similar patterns of response may also occur after immunization by other means. Therefore, the occurrence of another class of immunoglobulin must be recognized if the full scope of the antibody response of the rabbit is to be elucidated further.