The autoimmune response to male reproductive tissues of rabbits. IV. Induction of autosensitization to central accessory tissue by the intraabdominal release of endogenous secretions.

A study is described in which tissue- and secretion-specific autosensitization was induced in adult male rabbits through intraabdominal cannulation of one or more of their central accessory glands. Both primary and secondary humoral antibodies were elicited by this procedure, as determined by tanned cell hemagglutination and passive hemolysis, i.e., complement fixation. The secondary antibody responses were elicited by (i) cannulation of animals which had been previously stimulated by cryosurgery or combined cryosurgery and injection of pooled accessory tissue extract, and (ii) isoinjection of previously cannulated animals with accessory tissue extract. Primary antibody responses were less in animals castrated at the time of cannulation compared to those in noncastrated animals; but, paradoxically, subsequent challenges with tissue extract induced higher secondary antibody titers in castrated animals. These observations may be explained in castrates by (i) reduced uptake of antibodies--a result of the sparing effect on circulating antibodies in castrated animals because of accessory tissue atrophy, or (ii) increased production of antibodies through postcastration immune enhancement. In noncastrates secondary antibody depression may be related to (i) increased absorption of antibodies by an accessory gland complex which is much larger than that found in castrates, or (ii) tolerance, due to exposure of the antibody-producing system to excess accessory tissue antigen.