Influence of Deuteration on Circulating Antibody Levels in the Mouse. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Depressed serum antibody levels were observed in mice drinking 30% D₂O continuously, starting 17 days before immunization with BSA in complete Freund's adjuvant. Adjuvant-induced increases in body weight were also diminished in these animals. Ten days pretreatment with heavy water did not, however, alter the response to BSA. In another group of mice pretreated with heavy water for 7 days, primary agglutinin levels to sheep red cells were normal in the continuously deuterated mice for the first 2 weeks following immunization, diminishing thereafter. The extent of heavy water pretreatment required suggests that mere equilibration of body fluids and exchangeable tissue hydrogens with 30% D₂O does not result in depressed antibody levels. Only after substantial deuterium was incorporated by synthesis into non-exchangeable sites were circulating antibody titers observed to be diminished.