Immunologic Unresponsiveness to Allergic Thyroiditis in Guinea Pigs

Abstract

Immunologic unresponsiveness to autoimmune thyroiditis was induced in guinea pigs. A single injection of homologous thyroglobulin accompanied by eight daily injections of cyclophosphamide prevented the onset of thyroiditis after a disease-inducing challenge of guinea pig thyroglobulin. An injection of guinea pig thyroglobulin or cyclophosphamide alone did not produce specific immunity or unresponsiveness to a subsequent challenge with thyroglobulin. Picrylated guinea pig thyroglobulin or bovine thyroglobulin, in conjunction with cyclophosphamide, did not induce immunologic unresponsiveness to guinea pig thyroglobulin.