Quantitative alterations of immune serum globulin concentrations in pigs transplanted with a renal allograft

The variation of immune serum globulin concentrations in 14 pigs was determined after unilateral allogenic renal transplantation. Measures by which it is possible to exert certain immunological influences were not taken. Subsequent to transplantation there was observed a significant decrease in both IgM and IgG which was not correlated with the behaviour of plasma proteins and albumin. Because of the relatively small loss of IgG in the urine of animals on which transplantations were performed, this cannot be considered to be the cause of the decrease in immunoglobulin. It was already on the 3rd day after transplantation that an increase in IgM was observed which after reaching a peak of about + 30% was again followed by a distinct decrease of which the minimum was noted between the 6th and 15th days after transplantation. 10 animals died within the first phase, and in 4 of them death occurred on account of rejection for which histological evidence could be obtained. Although 3 of the 4 animals surviving for a longer period of time were also observed to suffer from distinct rejective crises between the 8th and 15th day after transplantation, they were able to overcome those crises without any therapeutical intervention. After some time, however, they were experiencing another IgM peak (this time greater than + 80%) which was followed, after 3 to 11 days, but the final crisis of rejection and death of the animal. In a few cases, glomerular IgM deposits were found in transplanted kidneys.