Antibody Formation After Injection of Heterologous Immune Globulin

Abstract

Summary: In continuation of a previous study on antibody production against rabbit serum immune globulin (RIGl) in guinea pigs it has been established that the observed inhibition results from competition of antigens. In addition, data have been presented which show that the degree of suppression of antibody formation against RIGl is related to the intensity of the antibody response against an arbitrarily selected competing antigen (hemocyanin). The effective amount of competing antigen depends not only on the amount of RIGl with which it is injected, but also on the previous history of the test animal. When the animal reacts anamnestically to the competing antigen, it produces little antibody against RIGl in response to the injection of RIGl contaminated with an otherwise ineffective amount of competing antigen. Conversely, prior sensitization to RIGl renders the animal refractory to the suppressive action of competing antigen injected together with RIGl.