Thymectomy and Anaphylactic Antibody in Rats infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis

Abstract

IT has been reported that neonatal thymectomy causes a defect in the production of “IgA” antibody in the rat. Arnason et al.¹ have shown that thymectomized rats immunized with bovine serum albumin (BSA), diphtheria toxoid, or heat-killed Salmonella typhosa produce comparatively small amounts of anti-BSA precipitating antibody and anti-diphtheria toxin (both largely IgA antibodies) but produce average amounts of anti-typhoid “O” agglutinin (IgM antibody) and of anti-BSA haemagglutinin (IgG antibody). In the present investigation, the production of anaphylactic antibody was compared in neonatally thymectomized and sham-operated rats infected with the intestinal nematode, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. This infection normally results in high titres of reagin-like antibody to worm antigen². The object of the present experiments was to determine whether the immunological deficit produced by neonatal thymectomy affects the production of anaphylactic antibody and the acquisition of immunity to i0nfection with N. brasiliensis.