Production of polyclonal antibodies in ascitic fluid of mice: technique and applications.

Balb/c mice immunised intraperitoneally with insulin developed significantly higher antibody concentrations in their serum than mice immunised subcutaneously. The antibody response was dose related, 50 ug amounts being more effective than either 20 ug or 5 ug amounts. In contrast, the antibody titres in the ascitic fluid of mice immunised with growth hormone were significantly higher after 5 ug when compared to 25 and 100 ug amounts. Repeated intraperitoneal injections of an emulsion of sheep IgG or human growth hormone in complete Freund's adjuvant, together with a single intraperitoneal injection of Pristane, induced ascites formation in most mice within 5 weeks. Up to 90 mL could be obtained from a single mouse by abdominal tapping, and the antibodies derived from the ascitic fluid proved suitable for application in a radioimmunoassay.