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ABSTRACT
Serum from most sheep subjected to a single jugular bleeding, repeated bleading or an intraperitoneal injection of yeast and repeated bleeding, showed an increase in the titre of a serum component called serum factor. Serum factor reached a peak titre 2 to 5 days after treatment started. For some sheep, the titre was elevated for a 9- to 12-day period whereas for others the titre dropped markedly on day 7 followed by a rise on day 9.
Serum factor reacts with sheep erythrocytes sensitised with rabbit antibody (sheep E-rabbit A). Serum factor can be detected on sheep E-rabbit A using guinea-pig antiserum that reacts with sheep complement (C).
Serum factor is inactivated by heating at 56°C for 30 minutes, but is only partially inactivated at 50°C for 30 minutes. The reaction of serum factor with sheep E-rabbit A is inhibited by chelators of Ca++ and/or Mg++.
Serum factor appears to be related to the sheep C system. Preliminary results suggest it may he a component of the classical pathway of sheep C, possibly the second component, C2.