Pregnancy impairment in mice by antibodies to subcellular placenta fractions

The administration of rabbit antibodies to whole mitochondria, mitochondrial membranes, or microsomes of mice placentas at 12-14 days of gestation resulted in abortion or fetal resorption, whereas antibodies to administered cytosol, mitochondrial matrix, or the mitochondrial intermembrane fraction were ineffective. From the distribution of marker enzymes in the biologically active and inactive fractions the abortigenic antigens are thought to be membrane-associated. Because of insurmountable cross-reactivities of the heterologous antisera, the immunopathogenesis of abortion could not be adequately clarified. However, preliminary experiments with antibodies (immune ascites) from mice immunized with the mitochondrial-microsomal fraction proved successful. A homologous animal model might be more helpful in elucidating the role of antibody-mediated immune mechanisms in human pregnancy impairment.