2] Production of large amounts of antibodies, nonspecific immunoglobulins, and other serum proteins in ascitic fluids of individual mice and guinea pigs

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a simple and rapid method for obtaining large quantities of antibodies, nonspecific immunoglobulins, serum proteins such as complement, and substantial amounts of biologically active molecules and cells, without sacrificing the animal. The method was developed during the course of studies on the production of anti- p -azophenylarsonate (anti-Ar) antibodies in strain A mice. The technique has been used successfully used to raise antibodies against a large variety of antigens, including hapten-carrier conjugates, proteins, synthetic antigens consisting of amino acid polymers—e.g., glutamic acid–alanine–tyrosin terpolymer (GAT) and (tryrosine–glutamic acid)–alanine-poly-L-lysine called (T,G)-A-L—and cell surface antigens. The results obtained from studies confirm that it is a simple, rapid, and reasonably economical method of generating substantial amounts of antibodies in mice of all inbred strains. Antibodies against (T,G)-A-L and GAT raised by this technique have been studied with respect to their idiotypic characteristics. An essential feature of the method is the use of a high ratio of complete Freund's adjuvant to antigen solution that is repeatedly injected intraperitoneally.