[Tissue distribution of native and enzyme-treated human immunoglobulin (author's transl)].

The tissue distribution of intravenously injected native and enzyme-treated human gammaglobulin has been investigated in the small intestine, kidney, striated muscle and the salivary gland of the mouse. Peroxidase-as well as FITC-labeled antibodies to human gammaglobulin were used to locate the injected antibody preparation. With this assay, the enzyme-treated immunoglobulin was found intracellularly, whereas the intact molecule seemed not to penetrate the cell wall and could mostly be found intra-and perivascularly. Since highly purified tetanus toxoid was fixed by thin sections of the intestine tissue containing intracellularly located enzyme-treated gammaglobulin it is concluded that the antibodies penetrating the cell wall retain their biological activity.