Homocytotropic Autoantibodies in Rabbits Subjected to Cryosurgery

Abstract

Abstract Homocytotropic antibodies can be induced in rabbits by parasite infection (1, 2) or by immunization with heterologous antigens (3, 4). The presence of such antibodies in primary responder and hyperimmune animals was recently demonstrated (5, 6). This study reports the induction of homocytotropic autoantibodies in male rabbits subjected to injury of the accessory glands by in vivo freezing. It is known that such treatment is able to evoke a specific hemagglutinating autoantibody response of the 19S and 7S type (7, 8). Materials and Methods. Thirty-five adult rabbits, cross-bred from various generations of New Zealand and Flemish Giant were used. Rabbits were subjected to one or several freezings of the accessory glands following a procedure previously described (8). Bleedings were performed approximately at 3, 7, 10, 15, 20, and 25 days after each cryogenic treatment. Semen was obtained from normal animals by means of the artificial vagina (9).