Variation in the Susceptibility of Guinea Pigs to Reversed Passive Anaphylaxis

Abstract

For some time the writers have been interested in the reactions which may take place when preliminary injections of antigen are followed in the same animal by administrations of homologous antiserum, a class of phenomena spoken of as “reversed anaphylaxis.” Such reatcions have been described by Opie (1) in connection with the Arthus phenomenon and have been recently observed, with general reactions, in guinea pigs by Kellett (2, 3). We have long been interested in experiments designed to determine whether the supposed union of antibody with sensitized cells, in passive sensitization, implied the actual attachment of foreign globulin (the antibody-carrying protein) to the cells of the sensitized animals. These experiments have not yet been concluded, but in the course of our studies an observation has been made which strongly suggests fundamental hereditary differences between guinea pigs of different strains in their responses to in vivo reactions of antigen and antibody.