METABOLISM AND PASSIVE TRANSFER OF IMMUNOGLOBULINS IN TURKEY HEN

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (9) , 1472-1481
Abstract
Aspects of the metabolism and passive transfer of radioactive 125I-labeled Ig[immunoglobulin]G, IgM and IgA from the turkey hen to the egg were studied. The half-life of 125I-labeled IgG in plasma was calculated to be 5.91 .+-. 0.81 days, and the time of maximal passage of radioactivity from hen into eggs was 6.5 .+-. 1.3 days. The following IgG determinations were made: plasma concentration (8.54 .+-. 1.2 mg/ml), total plasma pool (0.518 .+-. 0.07 g/kg), and total turnover rate (0.062 .+-. 0.01 g/kg/day) or 11.92 .+-. 0.01% of the plasma pool per day. The overall passage of IgG into sequentially laid eggs of individual hens was at a constant rate over an observation period of 46 days; loss to egg yolks accounts for less than 1% of total daily irreversible loss of IgG from the hen''s body. The IgG concentrations in egg yolks assayed in 3 hens ranged from 72.1 .+-. 6.7 to 104.5 .+-. 6.9 mg/yolk, with significant (P .ltoreq. 0.01) differences observed between birds not due to differences in egg wt. The IgG was detectable in egg whites, but at a low concentration. The biological importance of egg white IgG is questionable. In 2 hens examined, 125I-labeled IgM had a half-life of 2.69 and 2.74 days, with fractional turnovers of 25.76% and 25.29% of the plasma pool/day. The IgM-associated radioactivity in egg material was considered unimportant in overall Ig transfer into eggs. In 2 hens examined, 125I-labeled IgA (biliary) had a half-life of 1.92 and 1.68 days, with fractional turnovers of 36.09% and 41.25% of the plasma pool/day. IgA-associated radioactivity in egg material was considered unimportant in overall Ig passage into eggs.