Production of Antibodies to Sheep Red Blood Cells and Brucella abortus in Mongolian Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

Abstract

The levels of total and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME)-resistant antibodies in male Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were higher than those in male C57BL/6 mice after the first and second immunizations. On the other hand, the total antibody level to Brucella abortus (BA) in gerbils was comparable to that in mice, whereas 2-ME-resistant antibody titers were lower after the first and second immunizations than in mice. After injection of 8 x 10(4) SRBC, male gerbils did not produce either total or 2-ME-resistant antibodies after the first immunization, but they produced total and 2-ME-resistant antibodies after the first to the fourth immunizations with different dilutions of BA, and both types of antibody titers significantly increased with the repeated immunizations. There were no sex differences in total and 2-ME-resistant antibody production to SRBC.

Sequence Determination of the Heavy-Chain Constant Region in Four Immunoglobulin Classes of Mongolian Gerbils (<i>Meriones unguiculatus</i>)

“…Mongolian gerbils bred at this laboratory [3][4][5] were maintained at 22 ± 3°C with lighting from 0500 to 1900 h (14 light: 10 dark). Six females of inbred strain gerbils, 14-52 weeks of age, were used in the experiment.…”

“…However, few studies have focused on the Igs of the gerbil. Instead, antibody production in gerbils has been measured by the agglutination method [4] and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using polyclonal antibodies to mouse IgG [8]. It is important to understand the Igs in order to examine humoral immunity in gerbils, and sequencing of each Ig class is urgently needed to support detailed research.…”

Isotype analysis of gerbil–mouse heterohybridomas by RT-PCR

“…We used three strains of gerbils-one created by repeated sib mating in our laboratory (Kai et al, 2002), MON/Jms/Gbs Slc (Japan SLC Inc., Shizuoka, Japan), and MGS/Sea (Kyudo Co., Ltd., Fukuoka, Japan)-and ICR mice (Japan SLC). All animals were maintained at 22 ± 3°C with lighting from 0500 to 1900 h (14L:10D) and were given food pellets (Labo MR Stock, Nihon Nosan Kogyo, Yokohama, Japan) and water ad libitum.…”

“…Because of the absence of mAbs specific to gerbil Igs, antibodies in gerbil sera have been measured by agglutinin assay (Kai et al, 2002) and polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) to mouse immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes showing cross-reactivity to their gerbil counterparts (Amorim et al, 2010). Thus, mAbs specific to gerbil Igs would be useful for estimating humoral immunity in gerbils.…”

Partial sequence of Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) immunoglobulin gamma heavy chain constant region

“…Yet because of a lack of gerbil‐specific immunological reagents, there are few reports focusing on immunological parameters. Immune responses in gerbils have been measured by the agglutination method (Kai et al . 2002a) and by ELISA using polyclonal antibodies to other animals' immunoglobulins (Igs) (Mohanty & Ravindran 2002).…”