Pathological Findings Following Immunization with Vascular Tissues

Abstract

Earlier studies on the antigenic structure of vascular tissues revealed that aorta, other large vessels and endocardium possess three tissue specific antigens (F. Milgrom et al., 1967; H. W. Intorp et al., 1969; H. W. Intorp, F. Milgrom, 1969; H. W. Intorp, 1975). One of these components is characterized by its remarkable heatstability and ethanolinsolubility. To answer the question for the localization of this antigen in vascular tissues, rabbits were immunized with heatstable and ethanolinsoluble preparations of intima from bovine vascular material. After three, six and ten times immunization blood was taken from all animals. The obtained antisera were then tested for their antibody activity against various heatstable and ethanolinsoluble tissue preparations (Table I). As can be seen, all antisera reacted not only with vascular tissues but also with other preparations. In addition, positive reactions were observed with vascular tissues from various species. If, however, other tissue preparations were tested in these experiments no comparable reactions were recognizable.