[Mutagenic alterations of antibody biosynthesis]

The investigations of changes of antibody affinities were carried out with 182 immuned CBA mice under the influence of the mutagens. The mice were injected with ethylene imine and its derivatives, 6-azauridine, cyanurchloride, theobromine, glyoxal, at a dose of 100 mg/kg 2 days before, simultaneously and in 2 and 5 days after the immunization. The indices of the functional affinity of antibodies (the mean constant of true association, the standard free energy, the concentration of the hapten binding sites, the heterogeneity index, the level of IgG and its Fab- and Fc-fragments) were determined within 5, 10 and 20 days. Three groups of changes of antibody affinities in immuned mice were observed under the influence of mutagens: a) disassotiative changes with acute fall of affinities; b) erase changes; c) variable changes with discrete and corrective displacement of some affinities indices. Analysis of the data obtained suggests the existence of two forms of the mutagen immunodepression: 1) real immunodepression with a parallel fall of primary and secondary indices of antigen-intibody interaction; and 2) functional immunodepression with a fall of secondary indices. Polyfunctionality of the inhibition effect of alkyl mutagens is demonstrated.