IACUC Learning Module - Poultry, Appendix 1

IACUC Learning Module - Poultry

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APPENDIX I

ANTIBODY PRODUCTION IN LAYING HENS

INTRODUCTION:

 The use of laying hens as producers of polyclonal antibodies has been documented since 1980.

Advantages include:

  • The yolk of an immunized hen’s egg contains about four times the amount of antibody per unit volume than immunized rabbit serum.
  • Following immunization, the level of antibody persists for about a month.
  • The egg white contains IgM of the same specificity as the yolk-derived IgG.
  • Eggs containing the antibody can be stored unbroken in the refrigerator for several months.
  • The hen’s immune response is stronger than rodent or human nucleoproteins and may be superior even to rabbits.
  • Ability to produce large amounts of high quality IgM and IgG, using few animals and with little painful manipulation.

PROCEDURE

 It is recommended to use hens of peak egg production age (7-9 months). Immunization schedules and procedures are similar to those used with rabbits, including injections via the subcutaneous, intradermal, or intramuscular (breast or thigh muscle) route. Eggs should be collected immediately or separated from the hen by specially designed caging since hens may break eggs or poke holes in them.

If small, single holes occur in the egg, a repair may be affected by the following procedure:

Repair of Small, Single Holes in Egg
  • Melt petroleum jelly and fill a 5 ml syringe.
  • Refrigerate syringe containing petroleum jelly.
  • After chilling, fill egg defect with chilled petroleum jelly and store egg in refrigerator until used.

Methods for assaying the egg yolk for specific antibody production include ELISA, immunoblot, radioimmunoassay, immunoelectrophoresis. Further information may be found in the listed references.

REFERENCES

Carroll, S.B. and Stoller, B.D. 1983. Antibodies to calf thymus RNA polymerase from egg yolks of immunized hens. J. Biol. Chem. 258 (91) :24-26.
Polson, A., Von Wechmar, M.B., and Regenmortel, M.H.V. 1980. Isolation of viral IgY antibodies from yolks of immunized hens. Immunological Communications 9(5): 475-493
Proctor, M. 1994. Alternative Methods in Antibody Production. Association of Veterans Affairs Veterinary Medical Officers.
Smith, H.C., Specter, D.L., Woodcock, C.L.F., Ochs, R.L. and Bhorjee, J. 1985. Alterations in chromatin confirmation are accompanied by reorganization of nonchromatin domains that contain U-snRNP protein and nuclear protein p107. J. Cell. Biol. 101 p560-567.

Interesting Links -

NCSU Poultry Science Index Page

Chicken Breeds

Feathersite

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Last updated: 06/26/2008 gea