12. IMMUNOLOGY OF FISH
485
with respect to the biosynthesis of several different components and
provide a firm basis for evolutionary considerations.
Comparative Immunology of Fish Complement
It is now recognized that the complement system is an attribute of
all classes of vertebrates including the fish but that the system has yet
to be demonstrated in the invertebrates (see Evans et al., 196th).
Gewurz et al. (1966) review the literature on this subject, discuss various
papers demonstrating the classic four components in some higher vertebrates, and give reasons for believing that these components are present
in all species examined.
The hemolytic nature of fish serum and its heat lability has been
known for many years, as has its relationship to hemolytic antibody.
Three of the four classic components in guinea pig serum were demonstrated in carp in 1945 (Cushing, 1945), as was the reactivation of some
heterospecific combinations of inactive carp, frog, and guinea pig serums.
Subsequent investigation of fish complement remained essentially static
until very recently when members of Good’s laboratory turned their
attention to that of the chondrostean paddlefish, Polyodon spathula, and
several species of elasmobranchs (Gerwurz et nl., 1966). The complement system of these species was demonstrated in several ways, including potentiation with Carbowax, reversible blockage by EDTA
( ethylenediaminetetraacetate ) , heat inactivation and interaction, and
potentiation with some guinea components. Legler et 02. (1967) and
Evans et u1. (1968a) have also demonstrated the occurrence and potentiation of complement in teleost fishes.
More recently, Jensen et ul. (1968) have investigated the complement
of the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum, using natural antibody
of this species for sensitized sheep erythrocytes. They were able to
partially purify the first component of shark complement and to denionstrate its capacity for several kinds of interactions with different components of guinea pig complement. The Complement of species of teleosts
including a catfish has also been examined in some detail and found to
be comparable in activity to that of the guinea pig (Legler et aI., 1967).
Another kind of study of fish complement has been made by A. M.
Smith et at. (1967). These workers developed a modification of the Jerne
plaque technique for detecting antibody production by fish spleen and
pronephros. Classically, this technique is carried out by preparing agar
plates in which numerous intact sheep or other erythrocytes are embedded together with separated cells, such as lymphocytes from animals
485
with respect to the biosynthesis of several different components and
provide a firm basis for evolutionary considerations.
Comparative Immunology of Fish Complement
It is now recognized that the complement system is an attribute of
all classes of vertebrates including the fish but that the system has yet
to be demonstrated in the invertebrates (see Evans et al., 196th).
Gewurz et al. (1966) review the literature on this subject, discuss various
papers demonstrating the classic four components in some higher vertebrates, and give reasons for believing that these components are present
in all species examined.
The hemolytic nature of fish serum and its heat lability has been
known for many years, as has its relationship to hemolytic antibody.
Three of the four classic components in guinea pig serum were demonstrated in carp in 1945 (Cushing, 1945), as was the reactivation of some
heterospecific combinations of inactive carp, frog, and guinea pig serums.
Subsequent investigation of fish complement remained essentially static
until very recently when members of Good’s laboratory turned their
attention to that of the chondrostean paddlefish, Polyodon spathula, and
several species of elasmobranchs (Gerwurz et nl., 1966). The complement system of these species was demonstrated in several ways, including potentiation with Carbowax, reversible blockage by EDTA
( ethylenediaminetetraacetate ) , heat inactivation and interaction, and
potentiation with some guinea components. Legler et 02. (1967) and
Evans et u1. (1968a) have also demonstrated the occurrence and potentiation of complement in teleost fishes.
More recently, Jensen et ul. (1968) have investigated the complement
of the nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum, using natural antibody
of this species for sensitized sheep erythrocytes. They were able to
partially purify the first component of shark complement and to denionstrate its capacity for several kinds of interactions with different components of guinea pig complement. The Complement of species of teleosts
including a catfish has also been examined in some detail and found to
be comparable in activity to that of the guinea pig (Legler et aI., 1967).
Another kind of study of fish complement has been made by A. M.
Smith et at. (1967). These workers developed a modification of the Jerne
plaque technique for detecting antibody production by fish spleen and
pronephros. Classically, this technique is carried out by preparing agar
plates in which numerous intact sheep or other erythrocytes are embedded together with separated cells, such as lymphocytes from animals