Hyperacute Rejection of Skin Allografts in the Mouse by the Administration of Alloantibody and Rabbit Complement

Abstract

B6AF₁ recipients of B10.D2 mouse skin grafts were treated with anti-lymphocyte serum to prolong graft survival. On day 10 after transplantation, when the grafts were well healed in, the hosts received a single intravenous injection of B6AF₁ anti-B10.D2 serum (= antiserum to H-2.31) together with rabbit complement. This treatment was followed by hyperacute rejection of the grafts within 24 to 48 hr. Guinea pig complement was ineffective if used instead of rabbit complement. if, in the same model, graft survival was prolonged by treating the hosts with antiserum to H-2.31 (enhancement), hyperacute rejection could be produced on day 10 by the injection of rabbit complement alone. At this time circulating antibody to H-2.31 was demonstrated in the serum of the enhanced mice. The results suggest that mouse skin allografts are completely sensitive to the cytotoxic action of alloantibody in vivo provided an effective species of complement is present at the same time.