The Fate of Killed, Radioiodinated Brucella Abortus Injected Into Mice

Abstract

Following intraperitoneal injection of radioiodinated, acetone killed Brucella abortus, the spleens and livers of normal mice collected a higher amount of radioactivity and the mesenteric lymph glands a lower amount, than the corresponding organs of immune animals. The distribution of the label was similar, whether the mice had been actively immunized with a living or killed vaccine or passively immunized with mouse or rabbit anti-Brucella serum. There was a good correlation between the immunizing dose and the radioactivity in the mesenteric glands. Labeled bacteria sensitized with antibody behaved in the normal animal in a manner identical to that of the nonsensitized bacteria in the immune animal. The radioactivity found in the organs was shown to be attached to heavy particles retaining their antigenic properties, presumably intact bacteria. A considerable proportion of the injected brucellae was destroyed and the breakdown products excreted during the first 6 hr after inoculation.