Effects of maternal immunization on the survival and postnatal development of the offspring

Immunization of females prior to mating altered the size of their litters and the incidence of postnatal death and runting, and the effect varied with the antigen used. Litter size was decreased after immunization with an aggregated synthetic polypeptide or with DNP-BGG, but not with aggregated insulin. Postnatal mortality was increased after immunization with an aggregated polypeptide, aggregated insulin or DNP-BGG. Postnatal runting was increased after immunization with the aggregated polypeptide or with aggregated insulin.