Immunoglobulin production in the European pond tortoise, Emys orbicularis, immunized with serum protein antigens

Abstract

The immunological responses of the European pond tortoise, Emys orbicularis, to BGG and sheep serum proteins indicate that in this tortoise there is no serum component corresponding with mammalian albumin and that both γG (7S) and γM (19S) immunoglobulins are involved when antibodies are produced. A prolonged period of γM antibody production occurs after primary immunization. The separation of the γM and γG immunoglobulins was performed using starch block electrophoresis and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. The separated immunoglobulins were characterized by immunodiffusion and by starch gel, agar gel and immunoelectrophoresis.