The Effect of the Presence of Complement in Rabbit Serum on the Quantitative Precipitin Reaction

Abstract

Summary: The effect of the presence of complement in normal rabbit sera on both the antigen and antibody precipitation behavior in the region of antigen excess has been shown. It has been postulated that rabbit complement causes some of the soluble antigen-antibody complexes to become insoluble, thus shifting the equilibria existing in the region of antigen excess. Only 60% of the complement nitrogen was removed by 100 μgN of an Ea-anti Ea specific precipitate per ml of serum. The precipitin curves obtained in the presence of 0.85% saline and 5% serum albumin are similar. The degree of iodination of gamma globulin molecules and antibody molecules (anti BSA) is fairly similar.