Abstract
Immunological studies were performed in the dog with the bovine carotid artery treated with ficin and glutaraldehyde.
1) Immunogenicity was not depleted from the artery after ficin treatment only.
2) The ficin and glutaraldehyde treated artery was solublized with ultrasonic method, and then the dog was immunized with the soluble antigen. From this experiment, it was revealed that there was decreased immunogenicity in terms of humoral and cell-mediated immunity.
3) Specific antibody or sensitized lymphocytes were not detected in the dogs implanted with the bovine carotid artery treated with ficin and glutaraldehyde.
From these findings, it may be conceibable that ficin and glutaraldehyde treated bovine artery is enough applicable for a clinical use from the immunological point of view.
