IMMUNOGLOBULINS OF RHESUS MONKEY (MACACA MULATTA) .I. ANTISERUM TO BOVINE SERUM ALBUMIN AND DINITROPHENYL ANTIGENIC DETERMINANT

Macaca mulatta monkeys immunized to bovine serum albumin [BSA] and the dinitrophenyl [DNP] antigenic determinant demonstrated immediate type skin reactivity and a 24-hr, reaction of cutaneous necrosis. The serum of 3 of the 4 monkeys immunized transferred immediate type skin reactivity. Precipitating antibody, migrating in the gamma-globulin region was synthesized in response to both DNP and BSA determinants. Anti-BSA antibody of the IgA [immunoglobulin-A] and 2 specificities of IgG [immunoglobulin-G] types were demonstrated by radioimmunoelectrophoresis. Anti-BSA IgM was detected in purified and concentrated pooled hyperimmune anti-BSA serum. Anti-DNP antibody of the IgG and IgM types was detected. The precipitating capacitity of the sera was measured by the direct radioactive antigen precipitin technique; the formation of soluble antigen-antibody complexes in antibody excess was found in the DNP-anti-DNP system. The formation of these soluble complexes was shown to be more marked when DNP-BGG of a lower degree of haptenization was reacted with the anti-DNP serum. Equilibrium and dilution factors were measured and found to contribute little to the formation of these soluble complexes. Classical quantitative precipitin types of curves were constructed. Anti-BSA precipitated in combination with antigen around a 3:1 ratio on a molar basis, with a sharp zone of equivalence. Anti-DNP combined with a broader zone of equivalence than was observed in the BSA-anti-BSA system.