Tissue-specific antigens and autoantigens in the early developing rabbit male repoductive accessory glands

A comparative study was undertaken dealing with the postnatal development of rabbit male accessory glands specific macromolecules with and without autoantigenic properties. The two types of macromolecules were investigated in male accessory glands from rabbits of different ages, fron newborn up to six months old. The results obtained by passive hemagglutination, inhibition of hemagglutination and immunodiffusion tests, show that both types of macromolecules rise to a sufficient amount to be detected at approximately 3 months of age. The possible mechanisms explaining the autoantigenicity or the lack of this property in the macromolecules under study are discussed.