Studies of Antibodies in Ascitic Fluid of Individual Mice

Abstract

Summary

Employing mice with ascites, individual patterns of change in hemolysin and ovalbumin titer of ascitic fluid were studied for 4 inbred strains of mice. Mice received both primary and secondary immunizations of sheep erythrocytes. There was evidence of antibody titers 2 days after immunization. Characteristically, after primary immunization, rapid rises in titer occurred which attained their peaks within 7 days and were minimal after 15-20 days. Following secondary immunization, peak titers usually were higher, attained later and tended to diminish more gradually than following primary immunization. Some strain differences in the pattern of antibody titer changes were manifest. Ovalbumin titers measured by the PCA reactions were evident from the 12 th day, increased gradually to a peak, generally 32-42 days after immunization, then diminished more gradually thereafter.

In work with AL/N mice, not ascitic at time of immunization, the early rise in titer was approximately the same as for the other strains that were ascitic and individual titers persisted for as long as 110 days post-immunization. Individual titers were higher for AL/N mice than for the other strains, perhaps due to their non-ascitic state at time of immunization. Determination of precipitating antibody nitrogen in the ascitic fluid of ovalbumin-immunized mice indicated that early levels of antibody nitrogen as high as 105 γ/ml did not produce a positive PCA reaction sooner than 11 days post-immunization. The need for further studies on the characterization of antibodies in time of their appearance is indicated.