Immunological Reactions after Irradiation of the Uterus

Antibodies to the mucosa of the portio and uterus were studied in 80 patients before and after intensive local irradiation by intracavitary application of radium. In addition, an examination was made of 30 apparently healthy women of the same age groups, who had not been submitted to irradiation. Antibodies to a cell line derived from a malignant uterine tumour were also examined in the sera from the patients, as were antibodies to thyroid cytoplasmic antigen, thyroglobulin, bovine gamma globulin, parietal cells and cell nuclei. Antibodies to the uterine tissues were observed before irradiation in some patients and also in some of the healthy controls. After intensive local irradiation there was a significant increase in antibodies to the epithelial cells of the portio and to the cervical gland cells. This increase would seem to be limited to antibodies to the irradiated tissue, since no increase in antibodies to any of various other tissues studied was observed.