A study on the synthesis and secretion of immunoglobulins by the Jarderian gland of the fowl after eyedrop vaccination against infectious bronchitis at 1‐day‐old

Abstract

One-day-old chickens with maternally derived antibodies to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were vaccinated against IB by eye-drop. At 2 and 3 weeks of age the synthesis of immunoglobulins of the IgA isotype in the Harderian gland was demonstrated by immunofluorescence. With an anti IgG conjugate diffuse fluorescence of IgG was observed in the gland at 2, 3 and 4 weeks of age. Involvement of the Harderian gland in the synthesis or the secretion of IgM after IB vaccination could not be demonstrated by immunofluorescence. A quantitative estimation of immunoglobulins was carried out by laser nephelometry. At 2 weeks of age the concentration of antibodies against IBV of the IgA isotype (IgA-IBV) was higher in the tears than in the serum. This and the positive fluorescence indicate a local synthesis of IgA-IBV in the Harderian gland. The highest concentration of IgG antibodies against IBV (IgG-IBV) in the serum was measured at 2 weeks of age, when IgG antibodies could not be detected in the tears. In the tears the IgG-IBV concentration increased from 2 weeks up to and including 5 weeks of age, when the concentration in the tears was higher than in the serum. These findings and the diffuse IgG fluorescence in the Harderian gland suggest a mainly systemic production of IgG-IBV and an active and selective transport of IgG-IBV from the serum to the tears by the Harderian gland. Challenge at 6 weeks of age of the vaccinated chicks caused a sharp increase of IgG-IBV in the serum and a decrease of IgA-IBV in the tears 1 week later. Challenge of the unvaccinated control chicks resulted in a distinct rise of IgA-IBV in the tears and in a low IgG-IBV concentration in the serum after 1 week. These findings and the neutralisation indices measured for sera collected at 5 and 7 weeks are discussed.

The lymphoid substance of the chicken's Harderian gland is organized in two histologically distinct compartments

“…However, paraocular lymphoid tissue, which is actually the Harderian gland (HG), produces tremendous numbers of plasma cells accumulating in the stroma of the gland during the first 3 weeks of life (Bang and Bang, 1968; Burns, 1975; Scott et al, 1993; Wright et al, 1971). The secretion of the HG drains into the upper respiratory tract, where it provides local protection by secretory antibodies (Devalaar et al, 1982; Dohms et al, 1981; Mueller et al, 1971; Olah et al, 1991). The uniqueness of the HG is the large number of plasma cells which are capable of proliferation in loco (Savage et al, 1992; Scott et al, 1993).…”

Presence of viral antigens and antibody in the trachea of chickens infected with avian infectious bronchitis virus

“…The rôle of the Harderian gland in local immunity of the conjunctiva and nasopharynx has been reported (Davelaar and Kouwenhoven, 1980;Davelaar et al, 1982).…”

Experimental infections of one‐day‐old poults with turkey isolates of infectious bursal disease virus

“…Previous investigators of the effect of IBDV and the Harderian gland (Pejkovski et al, 1979;Davelaar et al, 1982) have described a source of plasma cells destroyed and maturation factors altered in the chicken. Our findings in the turkeys agree with their results with respect to IBDV.…”