Humoral immune responses inRana catesbiana frogs and tadpoles

✍ Scribed by Pross, Susan H. ;Rowlands, David T.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1976
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 621 KB
• Volume: 197
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-104X
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.1401970111

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Rana catesbiana adult frogs and tadples were immunized with the bacteriophage F2, ϕX‐174, and T4 and the haptens 2,4 dinitrophenyl (DNP) and fluorescein (FTC). The haptens were conjugated with bovine serum albumin (BSA), bovine gamma globulin (BGG), or horseshoe crab hemocyanin (Hycn). Sera were obtained from immunized animals at intervals up to six months after immunization. The antibody activities were measured by bacteriophage neutralization techniques. Sucrose density gradients were used to separate the antibody classes.

Both adults and tadpoles responded to each of the antigens tested. High molecular weight antibodies were predominant in both groups of animals. Low molecular weight antibody activity was not found in adults until nine weeks post immunization but, thereafter, this fraction increased throughout the immune response. Low molecular weight antibodies could also be identified in serum of tadpoles, but only under certain conditions.