Homologous Serum Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis in Guinea Pigs Mediated by Two γ1 or γ1-Type Heat-Stable Globulins and a Non-γ1 Heat-Labile Reagin

Abstract

Abstract Immunoglobulins with properties like those of human IgE (reaginic antibodies) occur in several laboratory animals, particularly the rat after antigenic injection (1, 2) or helminth infestation (3), the mouse after antigenic injection (4, 5) or helminth infestation (6), and the rabbit after antigenic injection (7, 8) and helminth infestation (9). Apart from a heat-labile antibody reported in guinea pigs infected with Trichinella spiralis (10), which conferred passive cutaneous anaphylactic (PCA) sensitivity on homologous skin for 21 days, reagin-like antibodies have not hitherto been described in guinea pigs, despite this animal's extreme susceptibility to anaphylaxis. Benacerraf and Ovary and their associates (11, 12) described two 7S immunoglobulins in guinea pigs, a γ1 which sensitized homologous tissues anaphylactically, and a γ2 which did not. The investigations described below now reveal at least three antibodies in guinea pig sera capable of sensitizing homologous tissues anaphylactically.