The effect of adrenalectomy on the production of homocytotropic antibody in rats

Homocytotropic antibody against egg albumin was produced in female Wistar rats using pertussis vaccine as an adjuvant. Yields of antibody were greater and more reproducible when adrenalectomized rather than intact rats were used. The time course of antibody production in adrenalectomized animals was followed by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats and by the BDB-haemagglutination technique. Maximal homocytotropic antibody production occurred acutely 12 days after sensitization, whereas haemagglutinating antibody levels were optimal on day 14. The effect of dosing adrenalectomized rats with deoxycorticosterone acetate, or prednisolone or prednisone at low doses reduced the level of homocytotropic antibody at 12 days without appearing to change the level of haemagglutinating antibody. Homocytotropic antibody production was significantly lower in adrenalenucleated rats than in completely adrenalectomized rats. Adrenalectomy without adjuvant treatment was not a sufficient stimulus to cause an increase in homocytotropic antibody formation. Only one homocytotropic antibody could be detected in all of these experiments. It was shown to be of the reaginic type as described by Mota (1964a).