Antibody Response in Rabbits Following Intranasal and Parenteral Administration of Birch Pollen

摘要

Rabbits given birch pollen intranasally responded by forming serum and nasal antibody and also by developing immediate skin reactivity. The components of birch pollen which were mainly responsible for the development of immediate skin reactivity were identical with the components which are allergenic in man. In contrast, parenterally immunized rabbits, developed skin reactivity against allergenic as well as non-allergenic pollen components. These results suggest that allergenicity of a substance is not solely determined by its ability to induce reagin formation. The serum antibody response of the rabbits was characterized by an early appearance of antibodies against heat-labile, non-allergenic antigens whereas antibodies against heat-stable components usually appeared only after repeated antigenic stimulations. In contrast, antibodies in the nasal secretions seemed to be directed against heat-stable antigens, mainly. These results are discussed with regard to hyposensitization therapy and the function of ‘blocking’ antibod