A STUDY OF THE ANTIHORMONAL ACTIVITY OF AN ANTISERUM TO OVINE PROLACTIN USING THE LOCAL LACTOGENIC RESPONSE IN THE RABBIT

Abstract

SUMMARY A rabbit antiserum to a purified preparation of ovine prolactin was prepared. The capacity of the antiserum to counter the biological effect of the preparation of ovine prolactin was determined. When injected intraductally before the injection of prolactin into the same duct the antiserum inhibited the lactogenic effect of prolactin on the rabbit mammary gland. The weight, nitrogen content and reducing sugar content of the mammary glands were used as criteria to judge the effect of the antiserum. The results of specificity tests on the antiserum, using the techniques of double diffusion and immunoelectrophoresis, are also reported.