CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTIBODY-RESPONSE OF MARMOSET TO SHEEP RED BLOOD-CELLS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 23  (3) , 525-535
Abstract
The immune competence of 2 species of marmosets, Saguinus fuscicollis and S. oedipus, was evaluated by the i.v. and i.m. injection of sheep red blood cells (SRBC). In S. fuscicollis, 1 ml of a 50% suspension yielded titers of hemolysin and agglutinating antibodies equal to or greater than 1 ml of a 10% dose of antigen. In both species, the i.v. route, while resulting in formation of 19S and 7S agglutinins, yielded only 19S haemolysins, even after multiple antigen injections. Repeated i.v. injections resulted in a progressive decrease in peak titers. This was in contrast to the i.m. route, where booster inoculations gave a typical anamnestic response. Jerne plaque-forming cells (PFC) in the spleens of S. oedipus showed predominantely 19S plaques after a primary i.v. challenge; only 19S PFC were detected in the spleen of an animal that was given multiple inoculations, the type of antibody produced reflecting that found in the serum. The 19S, but not the 7S hemolysins of both species were sensitive to heating at 56.degree. C for 1/2 h. The serum titers and splenic PFC data from the marmosets suggest these animals, particularly S. oedipus, respond poorly to SRBC when a comparison is made to similar studies in mice and rats.