Antibody Production and Transfer to Egg Yolk in Chickens

Summary The primary and secondary antibody responses of hens to bovine serum albumin (BSA) trace labeled with I131 and the rate of elimination of this antigen in control and immunized birds have been investigated. By determination of the antibody response of hens and the half-life of homologous γ-globulin, estimates were made of the rates of antibody production in hens. The efficiency of transfer of antibody to egg yolks was studied using both injected I131 trace-labeled homologous serum globulin and actively formed antibody against a heterologous serum protein and a viral antigen. The time relationships between appearance of serum antibody and its transfer to yolk have been established as well as the relation of this phenomenon to the early stages of embryologic development.