Summary
The ultracentrifugal patterns of ovine immune globulin revealed two peaks, the major peak having a sedimentation coefficient (s20, w) of 6.6 S while the smaller peak sedimented at 18 S. Heat treatment (65°C for 1 hr) destroyed the globulin sedimenting at 18 S. The sedimentation pattern of the 6.6 S globulin was unaffected. Globulin sedimenting at 6.6 S had a molecular weight of 174,000. The faster sedimenting 18 S globulin had a molecular weight of about 1 million.
The administration of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids to sheep was followed by the production of heat labile 18 S antibodies, which reached a peak titer on the 7th day. Heat stable 6.6 S antibodies were not detectable until the 9th day and their titer rose sharply thereafter. Early response ovine antitoxin appeared to be composed largely of 18 S antibodies. Most of the antibody activity of hyperimmune sheep antitoxin was found to be concentrated in the 6.6 S globulin.
The antibody activity of electrophoretically separated globulin fractions of higher mobility was destroyed by heating at 65°C for 1 hr. The titers of globulin fractions of lower mobility were enhanced by the application of this level of heat.
Chromatographic subfractionation of purified 6.6 S γ2-globulin revealed the presence of tetanus antibodies in two subfractions, one of low and the other of intermediate electrophoretic mobility. Diphtheria antibodies were concentrated in a single fraction of intermediate mobility.
Summary
Low molecular weight (6.6S) diphtheria and tetanus antibodies of ovine origin were absorbed relatively efficiently through the intestine of newborn, colostrum-deprived pigs, whereas high molecular weight (18S) antibodies were absorbed poorly or not at all.
Antibodies contained in 750 mg of purified 6.6S ovine globulin, administered orally and intraperitoneally, were eliminated from the circulation of newborn pigs at a constant exponential rate. The 6.6S globulin did not stimulate the production of anti-sheep globulin by the recipient pigs. Intraperitoneal administration of 750 mg of crude ovine globulin, containing antibodies in both the 6.6S and 18S fractions, resulted in an immune-type elimination of the passive antibodies by the recipient newborn pigs. This treatment resulted in the production of anti-sheep globulin by the recipient pigs.
Dilute 6.6S ovine antitoxin, premixed with toxoid and injected intraperitoneally into 3-week-old, colostrum-deprived pigs, induced the production of relatively large quantities of tetanus and diphtheria antibodies by the recipient pigs. Dilute 18S antitoxin plus toxoid, under the same circumstances, failed to stimulate diphtheria antibody formation but resulted in the production of high titers of tetanus antibodies.
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