Duration of Antibody Response to Soluble Antigen: Incorporation of Sulphur-35 Methionine into Normal and Antibody Globulin

Abstract

WE recently reported¹ that precipitating antibodies were present in chicken serum more than 300 days after two spaced intravenous injections of bovine serum albumin. Antibody remains detectable at 470 days post-injection with no apparent decrease in concentration having occurred over the last 300 days. It is of theoretical interest to know if these antibodies represent the product of continued synthesis, approximating a steady state, or alternatively reflect the gradual release from tissue depots of antibodies synthesized at a much earlier time. The present communication provides evidence favouring the former hypothesis.