Product #: PTX-002 anti-Fx1A

Sheep Anti-Fx1A
For the Induction of Accelerated Passive Heymann (membranous) Nephritis


Materials | Directions For Use | Download Full Data Sheet

 
Directions For Use:


This package contains sufficient antibody to induce disease in at least 25 rats when used according to the instructions below. Please read carefully before starting the procedure.

1. Preimmunization:  To induce an accelerated passive Heymann nephritis (anti-Fx1A nephritis) it is necessary to first immunize the rats with sheep immunoglobulin (1). This will allow the rats to produce antibodies to sheep IgG prior to administering the anti-Fx1A antibody, thus accelerating the course of the disease. If this step is omitted the disease will be weaker and more protracted.

Mixing the emulsion:

Attention! Always use gloves, the FCA contains cell wall material from killed tuberculosis mycobacterium. Exposure to skin can permanently sensitize the user.

Each rat will be injected with 0.5 ml of emulsion containing 2 mg sheep immunoglobulin as immunogen. The emulsion is made with equal volumes of FCA and sheep immunoglobulin solution. For 25 rats we recommend preparing a total of 15 ml of emulsion: 7.5 ml FCA plus 7.5 ml sheep immunoglobulin solution. More than the required volume is necessary, because the final mixture will be thick and recovery is inefficient. Mix the immunoglobulin solution by inversion then withdraw 7.5 ml in 10 ml syringe and put aside. Place the 20 ml syringe with blocked tip (included in kit) pointing down in a bucket of ice. Place 7.5 ml of FCA in the syringe. Firmly grip syringe and insert the homogenizer probe into the syringe bore down into the FCA. Turn on the homogenizer to approximately 10-15,000 rpm moving the syringe up and down to completely mix the emulsion from top to bottom. Slowly inject the immunoglobulin solution into the FCA while continuing to mix the emulsion (this should take at least 10 minutes, stop to cool the syringe and emulsion on ice intermittently while mixing). Continue to mix another 5 minutes. The emulsion will be ready when the syringe can be inverted at a 45 angle and the mixture is too thick to run down the side. At this point remove the blockage at the syringe tip with pliers and secure an 18-gauge needle to the hub. Place the needle in an inverted glass syringe (not supplied) with plunger open to make space for the emulsion to flow into. 5 ml glass syringes are recommended because 0.5 ml volumes will be injected in rats and larger syringes generally do not have appropriate graduations. Glass is recommended because the thick emulsion in a plastic syringe with a rubber plunger is excessively difficult to push and accurate injection volumes are not attainable. Glass syringes can be cleaned with acetone. Place plastic plunger into the 20 ml syringe and inject the emulsion into the open space in the glass syringe to fill the barrel bottom up, without forming an air pocket. When the glass syringe is filled, secure a 20-gauge needle and push the plunger up until the air is fully expelled and the emulsion is at the tip of the needle. The emulsion is now ready for injection. If fewer rats are to be immunized, adjust the volumes proportionately. The user is advised that recovery of the emulsion is less efficient with smaller volumes. Excess sheep immunoglobulin and FCA have been provided to compensate for multiple usages.

Immunization: This product has been determined to produce glomerulonephritis in 150-175 gm male Sprague-Dawley rats. Anti-Fx1A disease can be elicited in other rat strains, however, production of nephritis is genetically predisposed and we cannot guarantee success with other strains or gender.

To immunize the rats, one person should hold the rat gently, but firmly by placing a gloved hand over the shoulders of the animal with the head toward the palm. Lift the skin on the nape of the neck, insert the needle and inject no more than 0.1 ml of the emulsion. Repeat in additional subcutaneous sites until a total of 0.5 ml has been injected. Injections into multiple sites are required to elicit a good immune response and to prevent abscess formation.

2. Injection of anti-Fx1A antibody: Five days after preimmunization with sheep immunoglobulin anesthetize rats and inject 1.0 ml of anti-Fx1A antibody into a tail vein over a 30 second period (Larger volumes are required for heavier rats). Production of disease is dose dependent. For more disease inject more volume of antibody. Doses over 2 ml are not recommended. It is important that the complete dose of antibody is delivered. If the investigator is not experienced with tail vein injections, we recommended a number of practice injections of saline in sham rats before going forward antibody experiments. Disease will be noticeable within 2 weeks by increased proteinuria and histological alterations in glomerular structures.

1. Salant DJ, Cybulsky AV: Experimental glomerulonephritis. Meth Enzymol 162:421-461, 1988.


Materials | Directions For Use | Download Full Data Sheet

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