Myology and Serology of the Avian Family Fringillidae: A Taxonomic Study — John Shaqi
Myology and Serology of the Avian Family Fringillidae: A Taxonomic StudyStallcup, William B.
Science
Myology and Serology of the Avian Family Fringillidae: A Taxonomic Study
Stallcup, William B.
Birds; Finches
The addition of formalin reduces the reactivity of the extracts when
they are tested with antisera prepared against "native" antigens and
causes changes in the nature of the precipitin curves. This effect has
been pointed out by Horsfall (1934) and by Leone (1953) in their work
on the effects of formaldehyde on serum proteins. Their data indicate,
however, that even though changes in the immunological characteristics
of proteins are brought about by formolization, the proteins retain
enough of their specific chemical characteristics to allow consistent
differentiation of species by immunological methods. In the tests
which I performed, the relative positions of the precipitin curves,
whether native or formolized extracts were involved, remained
unchanged (Figs. 10, 11). _All data used in interpretation of the
serological relationships were obtained from tests in which formolized
antigens of equivalent age were used._
Only three antisera were produced against formolized antigens, all
others being produced against "native" extracts. The formolized
antigens seemed to have a greater antigenicity, in most instances,
than did those which were unformolized, and precipitin reactions
involving antisera produced against formolized antigens developed
higher turbidities. The antisera produced against formolized antigens
were equal to but no better than those prepared against "native"
extracts in separating the birds tested (Figs. 12, 13).
The rabbit is a variable to be considered in serological tests. Two
rabbits exposed to the same antigen, under the same conditions, may
produce antisera which differ greatly in their capacities to
distinguish different antigens. It is logical to assume, therefore,
that two rabbits exposed to different antigens may produce antisera
which also differ in this respect. This explains the unequal values of
reciprocal tests shown in Table 2. Thus, in the test involving the
antiserum to the extracts of _Richmondena_, a value of 71 per cent was
obtained for _Spiza_ antigen, whereas in the test involving
anti-_Spiza_ serum, a value of 98 per cent was obtained for
_Richmondena_ antigen. In Table 2, therefore, comparisons may be made
only among values for the proteins of birds tested with the same
antiserum.
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