In Vivo Localization of Labeled Rat Adrenal Antibodies

Abstract

After intravenous injection in rats the degree of localization of I¹³¹-labeled rabbit antibodies against rat adrenal tissue was measured in thirteen rat organs or tissues. The labeled antibodies, after intravenous injection, localize strongly in rat adrenal tissue, less strongly but significantly in ovarian, kidney, spleen and liver tissue, and almost not at all in the other major body organs and tissues measured. Radioautographs indicated that localization in the adrenal was greatest in the zona reticularis, and in the kidney in the glomeruli. The results suggest that an in vivo localization and reaction with adrenal tissue of auto-antibodies produced against the adrenal and perhaps other tissues may sometimes be a factor in endocrine malfunction. The results are also discussed with regard to the possible use of antibodies as carriers of radioactive or high neutron cross section isotopes for therapeutic purposes.