An investigation of the biliary and intestinal immunoglobulin and the plasma cell distribution in the gall bladder and liver of the common dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula L.

Abstract

Local immune mechanisms were investigated in the gut and gall bladder of the common dogfish. Administration of sonicated Vibrio anguillarum bacterin and whole sheep red blood cells (SRBC) by the oral and anal routes elicited the production of low titres of specific antibodies in the bile but not in the serum. Parenteral administration of the V. anguillarum sonicate and SRBC elicited a strong systemic response and specific biliary antibodies were detected at higher titres than when antigens were introduced into the alimentary tract. Immunoglobulin was detected in the bile and intestine and was comparable in size to serum immunoglobulin. However, they had different electrophoretic mobilities and preliminary characterisation revealed some differences in the heavy and light chains. The origin of the bile and intestinal immunoglobulin was not elucidated although it is likely that the former contributes to the latter. A few plasma cells were found in the gall bladder and none in the liver.