Mechanical agitation of very dilute antiserum against IgE has no effect on basophil staining properties

Author(s): Ovelgönne, J. H., Bol, A. W. J. M. , Hop, W. C. J. , van Wijk, R.

Journal/Book: Experientia. 1992; 48: 504-508.

Abstract: A previously reported (Davenas E. et al. Nature, 1988: 333: 816) effect of mechanically agitated dilutions of antiserum raised against IgE was inves- tigated using the loss of metachromatic staining properties of human basophil leukocytes as a model. A series of 24 experiments was perfor- med in which we counted (by eye) the number of toluidine blue - stainable basophils in a sample after incubating with vortexed or non - vortexed dilu- tions of anti IgE. Fourteen of these experiments were also counted, simultaneously by a second researcher. The researchers were blind both to which sample they were counting and to each others results. Tenfold serial dilutions were used, in the range 1021 to 1030 (molarity 2x10-27 2x10-36 M). We found no evidence for a different effect of strongly agita- ted dilutions, compared to dilutions made with minimal physical agitation. In fact, in our hands no effect of extreme dilutions was shown at all. With respect to the mean number of basophils counted by the 2 researchers, we do find a slight difference. We conclude that the effect reported by Davenas et al of extreme dilutions needs further clarification. in which the between-experimenter reproducibility should be taken into account.

Note: also in: Hom R&D Newsletter 3/4: o.S., 1992 and Proc GIRI 5: 18-19, 1991 (abstract)

Keyword(s): hom. br. exp. hum. imm. degran

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