| Abstract: | The production of antibodies against the major transplantation antigens has been investigated in sheep receiving osteoarticular allografts consisting of the distal portion of the femur. Grafts were used fresh, frozen or freeze-dried. It was shown that grafts of fresh or frozen tissues elicited a rapid humoral immune response with broad spectrum of anti-leucocyte antibodies in all recipients. In contrast, 36% of animals receiving allografts of freeze-dried bone never developed antibodies. In those recipients that did develop antibodies the time course of the response was similar to that in the recipients of fresh or frozen grafts; the spectrum of antibodies achieved was, however, significantly narrower in the freeze-dried graft recipients. These patterns are compared with those previously obtained in recipients of smaller osteoarticular grafts. The possible significance of these findings is discussed. |
