Studies on Brain Antigens

Seventeen antigens were detected in saline extracts of bovine brain by immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoretic experiments using antisera produced in rabbits by prolonged and intensive immunization with saline extracts of whole bovine brain or whole rat brain. Ten of the antigens were species-specific and shared by other bovine organs, five antigens were organ-specific and common to the brains of other mammals, and two antigens had specificities that were both organ- and species-restricted (OSR antigens). If bovine brain antigens were to be listed in the order of their prominence, the OSR antigens would be accorded a very low rank. In contrast, OSR antigens were major components of rat brain. Moreover, two bovine brain OSR antigens that are also characteristic components of bovine CSF could not be identified in brain extracts with any of our anti-BBE sera.