Detection of Five Components Having Antibody Activity in Rat Antisera.

Abstract

Radioimmunoelectrophoresis of rat anti-bovine serum albumin (BSA) or antibovine gamma globulin (BGG) serum samples revealed the presence of 5 radioactive bands which were designated as 1, [gamma]2, [gamma]M, U1 and U2. The latter 2 bands were unidentified but appeared, respectively, slightly anodal to the antigen well and in a region close to the middle of the gamma globulin band. Formation of the radioactive bands was due to specific binding of antigen by antibody as unlabeled homologous but not heterologous antigens would inhibit the binding of labeled antigen. Immunization of the rats with BSA adsorbed to bentonite or in complete Freund''s adjuvant resulted in formation of 1st [gamma]1 antibody and then [gamma]2 antibody. Except for the occasional early appearance of anti-BGG of the [gamma]M class, the [gamma]M antibody and U1 and U2 appeared only in hyperimmune serum. Immunization with antigen in saline produced only [gamma]1 class antibody.