title: Systemic immunization of mature mice by the oral route.
abstract: 1. Mice of several strains which are susceptible to the induction of oral tolerance by a single gavage with 20 mg of ovalbumin (Ova) when young adults (7-8 weeks old) become less susceptible or refractory to tolerance induction when mature (20-40 weeks old). The antibody-forming capacity of these mature animals remains invariant compared to young adults (8-10 weeks old). 2. Mature mice of several strains display significant serum antibody responses to 3 gavages (days 0, 7 and 28) with Ova; as assessed by ELISA titers, these responses are similar in magnitude to those elicited by standard ip immunization with small doses of Ova. 3. In mature H-III mice, gavages on days 0, 7 and 28 induced significant antibody formation. On the contrary, the ingestion of the same amounts of Ova on days 0, 7 and 28 induced oral tolerance. Concomitant gavage with saline on the days of Ova ingestion failed to inhibit tolerance induction. 4. In H-III mice displaying circulating antibodies induced by repeated gavage with Ova, additional ip injections of Ova failed to increase the antibody titers.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerias, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Verdolin
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Lahmann
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Vaz
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods*; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D010047:Ovalbumin