Suppression of idiotypic specificities in adult mice by administration of antiidiotypic antibody.

It has previously been shown that there are extensive idiotypic cross-reactions among antiphenylarsonate antibodies of A/J mice. The present work indicates that administration, into normal, adult A/J mice, of rabbit antiidiotypic antibody directed to A/J antiphenylarsonate antibody suppresses almost completely the subsequent production of antibody of the corresponding idiotype. No effect was noted on the formation of antibodies to the protein carrier or of antiphenylarsonate antibody of a different idiotype. The data are consistent with central suppression of production of the idiotypic antibody mediated through interaction with immunoglobulin receptors on lymphocytes.