Production of antibody against purified human gamma-G-globulin in rabbits, goats, sheep and horses. A report to the Medical Research Council by a sub-committee of their blood transfusion research committee.

A purified preparation of human γG-globulin was injected into three rabbits, three goats, three sheep and three horses. Primary injections of antigen mixed with Freund's adjuvant were given, followed after 6 weeks by booster injections of alum-precipitated γG-globulin; two further booster injections were given with intervals of a few months between each injection. Considerable amounts of antibody were found after the primary injections in rabbits, sheep and horses (the goats were not tested). Antibody production reached a maximum after the first booster injections in the rabbits and horses but only after the second booster injection in the goats and sheep. Anti-γG-globulin was the only antibody produced. Maximum antibody concentrations ranged from 1.7 to 6.4 mg/ml in the rabbits, goats and sheep, and from 20.1 to 29.9 mg/ml in the horses. Nevertheless, the horse antisera did not make good antiglobulin reagents, mainly because they exhibited very marked prozones. The rabbit, goat and sheep antisera all appeared to be satisfactory but some discrepancies were revealed in carrying out tests with red cells sensitized with antibodies other than Rh. Further investigations are needed on possible qualitative differences between different anti-γG-globulin sera before a definitive specification for this reagent can be drawn up.