Quantitation of immunoglobulins in mouse tears using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

Aqueous tears were collected by glass capillary tubes at weekly intervals from 6-9 week old, Swiss-Webster mice. Mouse IgA, IgG1, IgG2a and IgM were quantitated in the tears using sandwich type enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). IgE was quantitated using an indirect two-step ELISA. The results established IgA as the predominant antibody in mouse tears at a level of 110 micrograms/ml. This was determined using a mouse IgA standard which contained both polymeric and monomeric IgA. IgG1, IgG2a and IgM were detected in the tears at low levels, 13 ng/ml, 21 ng/ml and 442 ng/ml, respectively. IgE was not detectable in mouse tears with a lower limit of detection equal to 10 ng/ml. These studies establish the relative levels of IgA, IgG1, IgG2a and IgM in the tears of normal adult mice.