Inhibition of the production of autoimmune thyroiditis in the rabbit.

Thyroiditis and antibody to native thyroglobulin developed in rabbits given two series of injections of an aqueous preparation of homologous thyroglobulin, coupled to the diazonium derivatives of arsanilic and sulphanilic acids. The production of both thyroid lesions and antibody were inhibited when native homologous thyroglobulin was injected either prior to, or simultaneously with, the injections of the arsanil—sulphanil-thyroglobulin. The autoimmune response induced following injections of arsanil—sulphanil-thyroglobulin was re-stimulated by a single injection of native thyroglobulin given at a later time; however, multiple injections failed to re-stimulate and the lesions disappeared. The ability to produce autoimmune thyroiditis by injections of aqueous preparations of arsanil—sulphanil-thyroglobulin appeared to be highly dependent on the injection schedule and/or the injection dose.