Specific inhibition of antibody production. I. Protein-over loading paralysis

Abstract

A state of protein-overloading paralysis has been induced to bovine γ globulin (BGG) in adult CBA mice. Paralysis was demonstrated by a lack of immune elimination of ¹³¹I labelled BGG after prior challenge with Freund's adjuvant containing BGG. The degree of paralysis was found to diminish when the time between the paralysing injection and challenge injection was increased. This loss of the paralysed state could be prevented by injections of antigen whilst the mice were still paralysed.

The superficial nature of the differences between paralysis (unresponsiveness induced in adults) and tolerance (unresponsiveness induced in neonatals) to BGG in CBA mice is discussed. The possibility that suppression of antibody production in previously immunized animals given a massive dose of antigen, is a distinct phenomenon from the induction of paralysis/tolerance in animals not previously immunized, is briefly discussed.