DEMONSTRATION OF AN ANTIBODY-RESPONSE OF THE ANTERIOR KIDNEY FOLLOWING INTESTINAL ADMINISTRATION OF A SOLUBLE-PROTEIN ANTIGEN IN TROUT

The humoral antibody response following anal intubation of a soluble a ntigenic protein to trout was investigated. The transfer of human immu noglobulin G (IgGh) to the plasma was demonstrated by ELISA assays, Th e participation of the anterior kidney in plasma clearance of the anti gen was shown by an immunofluorescence study. The anterior kidney disp layed a proliferation of specific B lymphocytes and differentiation in to plasma cells producing anti-IgGh IgM. The peak of plasma specific a ntibody concentration occurred 30 days after intubation and a second i ntubation led to another peak 20 days later, whose amplitude was close to that of the primary response.