title: Quantitation of immunoglobulins in mouse tears using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
abstract: Aqueous tears were collected by glass capillary tubes at weekly intervals from 6-9 week old, Swiss-Webster mice. Mouse IgA, IgG1, IgG2a and IgM were quantitated in the tears using sandwich type enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). IgE was quantitated using an indirect two-step ELISA. The results established IgA as the predominant antibody in mouse tears at a level of 110 micrograms/ml. This was determined using a mouse IgA standard which contained both polymeric and monomeric IgA. IgG1, IgG2a and IgM were detected in the tears at low levels, 13 ng/ml, 21 ng/ml and 442 ng/ml, respectively. IgE was not detectable in mouse tears with a lower limit of detection equal to 10 ng/ml. These studies establish the relative levels of IgA, IgG1, IgG2a and IgM in the tears of normal adult mice.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins