Humoral antibody response in rabbits after intragingival injections of bovine serum albumin and Escherichia coli endotoxin

Abstract

The humoral antibody response in rabbits to primary, secondary and multiple intragingival injections of bovine serum albumin (BSA) or somatic lipopolysaccharide endotoxin from Escherichia coli have been analysed by molecular sieve chromatography, immunoelectrophoresis and passive haemagglutination. No adjuvants were used in any of the experiments. BSA induced mainly IgG class of antibodies with the exception of the early part of the primary response. A pure IgM response was noted following a primary injection of endotoxin. Both IgM and IgG antibodies were found in the secondary response and after repeated multiple injections of endotoxin, but IgM dominated all responses to endotoxin. The results also indicate that an enhanced secondary antibody response exists following a secondary injection of endotoxin. The IgM and IgG profiles following intragingival injections of BSA or endotoxin have now been established following three different methods of administration.