Quantitative immunoelectrophoretic analysis of rat allergen extracts. I. Antigenic characterisation of fur, urine, saliva and other rat-derived materials.

Crossed immunoelectrophoresis reference patterns were established for the antigenic constituents of rat fur, urine and saliva. Using quantitative immunoelectrophoretic techniques, extensive cross-reactivity was observed between these extracts, and with epithelia, shaved pelt, serum, faeces and dust. No major qualitative sex differences were observed, though levels of certain components differed. Constituents of many source materials were found to show a reaction of partial identity with previously isolated rat urinary allergens; and relative skin test reactivity of a range of these extracts was associated with the amount of urinary allergen present. Material from two different rat strains had similar constituents. Rat source materials did not cross-react with the corresponding extracts from guinea pigs.