Anaphylactic and Precipitating Antibody Responses of Aging A/J Female Mice

Abstract

Aging A/Jax female mice were compared with young controls for abilities throughout life to make IgG₁ and IgE anaphylactic antibodies and precipitins to chicken conalbumin (CA) and methylated human serum albumin (MeHSA) injected in five different regimens of immunization. These regimens consisted of various combinations of injections of antigen in water-in-oil emulsion or in saline. CA induced those antibodies well, MeHSA poorly. The mice were able to respond nearly equally at all ages, a finding differing from earlier ones for at least two reasons: (1) neither antigen used is related to any in mouse food, and (2) the regimens of immunization caused sustained antigenic stimulation together with induction of T cell responses, which could have compensated for otherwise expected age-weakening of necessary T_H cell functionings. We conclude that A/J female mice can make good anaphylactic and precipitating antibody responses to new antigens throughout life.