Experimental allergic sialoadenitis. VII. Reactivity of the parotid gland to antigenic challenge in passively immunized rats.

Rats were passively immunized by an intraperitoneal injection of homologous anti-BSA serum and their salivary glands were challenged 20 min or 24 hours later with BSA by the intraductal route. Immune complex sialoadenitis developed only when challenge was early. It is concluded that immunoglobulins are transferred from the circulation into the salivary glands and are relatively rapidly cleared by a mechanism yet unknown, possibly by salivary flow.