The Effect of Antigen Concentration on the Initiation of Detectable Antibody Synthesis in Rabbits

[摘要] The concentration of BSA and not the total dose appeared to be the critical factor in eliciting an antibody response to small amounts of BSA given in water-in-oil emulsions: a) While holding the concentration of antigen in the aqueous phase of the adjuvant constant, it was possible to reduce the total amount of BSA injected by a factor of 10 without significantly reducing the proportion of animals responding with antibody synthesis: b) While holding the total amount of antigen injected constant, it was possible to decrease the proportion of animals responding with detectable antibody synthesis by employing larger volumes of adjuvant and a lower concentration in the aqucous phase.The minimal amount of BSA required to initiate synthesis of detectable amounts of antibody was approximately 6 μg when intravenously administered and 1/100 this amount or 0.05–0.1 μg when given in water-in-oil emulsion. However, if one compares these two methods of immunization in terms of the maximum concentration of antigen to which the tissues of the host were exposed, they are quite similar. Thus, if concentration of the antigen as it exists in the tissues is a determining factor in eliciting an antibody response, it may be that the emulsion adjuvant enhances the immunizing capacity of small amounts of antigen by maintaining them undiluted until they are released from the oil.Bovine γ-globulin (BGG) was found to be a more effective antigen than BSA with respect to the minimal amount of antigen required to initiate antibody synthesis following intravenous injection.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）