Studies on Anaphylactic Shock in the Mouse

Abstract

A water-in-oil emulsion containing bovine albumin and killed Mycobacterium butyricum was found to sensitize regularly CFW mice to severe and fatal anaphylactic reactivity. One-tenth mg of bovine albumin contained in 0.2 ml of the antigen-adjuvant mixture was found to be an effective sensitizing dose; 0.2 ml of 1% bovine albumin (2 mg) in 0.85% NaCl solution employed as the challenging dose was administered intravenously. Anaphylactic sensitivity was not demonstrable in animals challenged 1, 3, or 5 days postsensitization. Mice challenged 7 days following sensitization showed occasionally an extremely mild reaction. Challenge of mice 10, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, and 84 days after sensitization with the bovine albumin-adjuvant emulsion killed 15, 16, 43, 67, 67, 90, 93, 73, and 57% respectively. The rectal temperatures of mice surviving at 30 min after challenge were found to be markedly decreased indicating, in general, the severity of shock. Sensitized mice surviving a challenge with bovine albumin were found to be refractory when rechallenged 24 hr after the first challenging dose. A report is made on the successful production of fatal anaphylaxis in CFW mice sensitized passively with homologous serum. The mouse antiserum employed in transferring passive sensitivity to mice was secured from animals sensitized with bovine albumin-adjuvant emulsion containing killed Mycobacterium butyricum. The mouse antiserum was found to contain precipitins for antigens in both bovine albumin and bovine γ-globulin.