Assay of specific antibodies produced in organs of mice immunized with nerve growth factor

Immunization of mice with nerve growth factor (NGF) leads to the production of antibodies, which can be assayed, from the serum. Currently, it is considered that the spleen of an immunized animal is predominantly involved in the production of antibodies. Therefore, spleen cells of the immunized animal are used to fuse with the respective species of myeloma cells to create in vitro immortalized antibodies secreting hybridomas. This investigation reports that besides spleen, other organs are involved in the production of antibodies. Adult Balb/c female mice were immunized with cobra venom derived NGF, 10 microg/mouse, three times, ten days apart. A set of immunized mice was sacrificed after each injection for organs. The serum and organ homogenates were assayed for antibodies specific to NGF. It was revealed that the liver and the ovaries showed the highest level of antibodies, higher than serum of the immunized mice. Spleen showed a higher level of antibodies than kidney, lung, and salivary glands. The homogenates of bone, brain, muscle, pancreas, and skin did not show detectable antibodies. This is a first-hand investigation reporting the involvement of organs other than spleen in the production of antibodies.