Discrepancy between Clq deviation and Raji cell tests in detection of circulating immune complexes in patients with leprosy.

Samples of serum from 45 patients with different clinical forms of leprosy and from 17 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were studied in parallel for circulating immune complexes with use of two different in vitro tests adjusted to the same degree of sensitivity. The Clq deviation test relied upon the reaction of the complement component Clq with immune complexes. The Raji cell test detected complement-fixed immune complexes that bound to the complement receptors on cultured, bone marrow-derived lymphocyte-like Raji cells.

Immunological and morphological effects of vasectomy in the rabbit.

Half of the rabbits developed antisperm antibodies (measured by either indirect immunofluorescence or sperm immobilization tests) after either a unilateral or bilateral vasectomy. The raised antibody levels, particularly six months or longer after vasectomy, often accompanied patchy orchitis. Seminiferous tubules from such animals exhibited sloughed, multinucleated, and immature germinal cells which were engulfed by phagocytic cells.

Pathogenesis of experimental allergic orchitis. III. T lymphocyte requirement in local adoptive transfer by peritoneal exudate cells.

In experimental allergic orchitis (EAO), a lesion characterized by mononuclear invasion of seminiferous tubules can be adoptively transferred within 1 to 4 days by testicular injection of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) from syngeneic strain 13 guinea pigs (GP) immunized with homologous testicular antigens in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). This study examined the role of T lymphocytes, macrophages, and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) in the adoptive transfer. Guinea pig PEC contained 7% T lymphocytes, rare B lymphocytes, and over 90% of macrophages and PMN.

Benign monoclonal gammaglobulinemia and glomerulonephritis.

Serum protein electrophoresis revealed a monoclonal gammopathy in three patients who presented with glomerulonephritis. Other features of myeloma were not found. Clinical manifestations of glomerulonephritis included marked proteinuria and significant hematuria.

A useful technique applicable to the immunofluorescence test.

A simple techinque for carrying out the immunofluorescence procedure is described that eliminates the problem of drying of antiserum and reduces cost per test.

En bloc transplantation of liver, pancreas, duodenum, and spleen in the rat. Description of technique and histological findings.

En bloc transplantation involving liver, spleen, pancreas, and duodenum was successfully carried out in the rat. While operative mortality due to technical failure was 31%, of those that survived over 95% of the isografts had normal histology up to 4.5 months.

Human sperm antigens and antisperm antibodies. II. Age-related incidence of antisperm antibodies.

Naturally occurring human antisperm antibodies (ASA) detectable by immunofluorescence, were found to have a peak indicence of 90% in both sexes before puberty. Thereafter, the incidence declined to about 60% and persisted through life. This age-related incidence resembled that for foreign and not self antigens.

Human sperm antigens and antisperm antibodies. III. Studies on acrosomal antigens.

Acrosome of human sperm possesses two distinct antigens that are immunogenic, and will elicit autoantibodies that are detectable by immunofluorescence (IF). The first antigen, Acl, diffuse in distribution, is probably glycoprotein in nature since it is removed by trypsin and periodate. It is readily removed from cells after incubation in acid buffer or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), stable at 60 degrees C and not affected by trypsin inhibitor.

Purification, new assay, and properties of coenzyme A transferase from Peptostreptococcus elsdenii.

Coenzyme A (CoA) transferase from Peptostreptococcus elsdenii has been purified and crystallized, and some of its properties have been established. The work was facilitated by a newly developed coupled and continuous spectrophotometric assay in which the disappearance of added acrylate could be followed at 245 nm. The rate-limiting conversion of acetyl- and beta-hydroxypropionyl CoA to acrylyl CoA by CoA transferase was followed by the non-rate-limiting conversion to beta-hydroxypropionyl CoA by excess crotonase.

Human sperm antigens and antisperm antibodies I. Studies on vasectomy patients.

This study documents the types and incidence of antisperm antibody, detectable by indirect immunofluorescence, in 114 patients before vasectomy, 112 at 2 months and 71 patients at 6-9 months after vasectomy. Indirect immunofluorescence techniques revealed antibodies to seven distinct sperm antigens. Five of these antigens were readily accessible to antibody in vitro, and the remaining two were accessible only after treatment of spermatozoa with dithiothreitol and trypsin.