Changes in the amphibian antibody repertoire are correlated with metamorphosis and not with age or size.
Tadpole and adult Xenopus, manipulated to be of comparable size, exhibited stage-specific antibody expression. The production of adult-type higher-affinity anti-DNP antibodies proved to be independent of the age and size of the individual and is concomitant with the completion of metamorphosis. The appearance of new antibody specificities at such a time suggests that their expression occurs with the cell turnover and renewal during a period of morphological changes.
Hsu
E
E
Department of Biology, New York University, NY 10003.
Du Pasquier
L
L
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001835:Body Weight; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology; D007814:Larva / Q000276:immunology; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological / Q000276:immunology*; D014981:Xenopus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*
C042158:2,4-dinitrophenyl keyhole limpet hemocyanin; D006433:Hemocyanins