IMMUNE RESPONSE IN COLD EXPOSURE 

 SUMMARY 



Immuno- chemical studies were conducted on serafrom rabbits to 

 investigate the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the immune re- 

 sponse under conditionsof "hypothermia". Rabbits have been subjec- 

 ted to lowered environmental temperature (4° C) ,shaved of their pel- 

 age, and immunized with various protein antigens. Serum samples 

 obtained from varying periods during each of the studies via cardiac 

 puncture have been qualitatively assayed for antibody response by 

 Ouchterlony gel diffusion, immuno- electrophoresis, starch gel elec- 

 trophoresis, and paper electrophoresis. Quantitative analyses have 

 included "ring" precipitin titrations, quantitative gel diffusion anal- 

 ysis, and micro- quantitative precipitin analysis. In all of the studies 

 the response of the "cold exposed" animals have been compared 

 with the "non-cold exposed" animals treated in an identical manner, 

 except for maintenance at the lower environmental temperature. 



LITERATURE CITED 



1, Aladjem,F,, R. W. Jaross, R. L. Paldino, and J. A. Lackner. 

 1959. The antigen- antibody reaction. Ill, Theoretical consider- 

 ations concerning the formation, location, and curvature of the 

 antigen- antibody precipitation zone in agar diffusion plates, 

 and a method for the determination of diffusion coefficients of 

 antigens and antibodies. J. Immunol. 83: 221-231. 



2. Baker, D. G., and E. A. Sellers. 1960. Unpublished, Intermediary 



metabolism: Discussion. Symposium on cold acclimation. 

 Federation Proc. 19: Supplement No. 5, p. 133. 



3, Bertke, Eldridge, (Unpublished data) Arizona State University. 



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