ELICITATION OF A RAPID AND TRANSIENT ANTIBODY RESPONSE TO H-Y ANTIGEN BY INTRASPLENIC IMMUNIZATION

Abstract

Immunization of BN or HS female rats by intrasplenic implantation of syngeneic male skin results in a rapid, albeit transient, antibody response to H-Y antigen. Maximal antibody titer obtained by this protocol are of the range 1:4000–1:8000, and are substantially higher than titers obtained using other immunization protocols. Histological examination of the splenic skin implants shows appearances consistent with the conclusion that the skin remains viable during antibody production. Cellular infiltration into the BN implants suggests the onset of a rejection reaction as early as 2 weeks after implantation. The very transient nature of the antibody peak suggests rapid catabolism of the antibody or the supervention of a suppressor response as a part of the rejection reaction. This immunization method may prove useful for the production of higher-titer H-Y antibodies than have hitherto been available.