Distribution of Allelic Allotypes among γG-Immunoglobulins and Purified Anti-Hapten Antibodies from the Same Rabbit

Abstract

Summary Antibodies were prepared to the two haptenic groups 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP) and p-azobenzenearsonate (R-azo) in 17 rabbits heterozygous at either or both the a or b allotypic specificity loci. By qualitative Ouchterlony test, every purified antibody preparation contained the same allotypic specificities as that of the immune serum from which it had been isolated. By quantitative Oudin analysis in agar gel tubes, the quantitative variation of allotypes among the antibody preparations of individual rabbits was considerable. Among five b4/b5 heterozygous rabbits, the concentration of b4 and b5 molecules in the purified anti-DNP population was not consistently different from that in the bulk γG-immunoglobulins from which they were isolated (P > 0.20). On the other hand, among the same five b4:b5 heterozygotes as well as two more, the concentration of b4 molecules was consistently greater (P < 0.05) and of b5 molecules consistently less (P < 0.01) in the purified anti-R-azo population than in the bulk γG-immunoglobulins from which they were isolated. Furthermore, among four a1/a3 heterozygous rabbits, the concentration of a1 molecules was consistently less (P < 0.01) and of a3 molecules consistently more (P < 0.09) in the anti-DNP population than in the bulk γG-immunoglobulins from which they were isolated. While these results suggest that antibodies of a given specificity are selectively formed from certain allotypes, confidence in the biologic significance of the present results must be restrained until additional experimental conditions outlined in this article are satisfied.