Concentrations of immunoglobulins and albumin in lymph collected from various regions of the body of the sheep

KJ Beh, DL Watson, AK Lascelles - Australian Journal of …, 1974 - Wiley Online Library
KJ Beh, DL Watson, AK Lascelles
Australian Journal of Experimental Biology and Medical Science, 1974Wiley Online Library
In an attempt to estimate the amount of locally produced immunoglobulin in lymph,
concentrations of IgG1, IgG2, IgA, IgM and albumin were measured in lymph collected from
various regions of the body of unanaesthetized sheep. In testicular, afferent leg and efferent
leg lymph, the lymph: serum concentration ratios for albumin were much greater than the
corresponding ratios for the immunoglobulins. It was found that the concentration of the
immunoglobulins and albumin was greater in efferent than in afferent leg lymph, suggesting …
Summary
In an attempt to estimate the amount of locally produced immunoglobulin in lymph, concentrations of IgG1, IgG2, IgA, IgM and albumin were measured in lymph collected from various regions of the body of unanaesthetized sheep.
In testicular, afferent leg and efferent leg lymph, the lymph:serum concentration ratios for albumin were much greater than the corresponding ratios for the immunoglobulins. It was found that the concentration of the immunoglobulins and albumin was greater in efferent than in afferent leg lymph, suggesting that capillary beds in the node are contributing capillary filtrate of a higher protein concentration than capillary beds drained by the afferent duct.
In contrast to lymph from other regions, the lymph:serum concentration ratios of intestinal lymph for IgG1, IgG2 and especially IgA exceeded that for albumin, indicating that these immunoglobulins are being added to the capillary filtrate forming in the intestine. The concentration of IgA in intestinal lymph was 1ˇ13 mg/ml and it was calculated that intestinal lymph contributes approximately 2 g of IgA to the blood each day.
An additional source of serum IgA is the involuting mammary gland and it was calculated that it could contribute up to 0ˇ2 g IgA to the blood each day.
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