The Altered Reactivity of Mice after Immunization with Hemophilus Pertussis Vaccine

Abstract

Pertussis-inoculated young mice were more resistant to the lethal effects of histamine than pertussis-inoculated older mice similarly challenged. Phase IV H. pertussis vaccine did not sensitize mice to the lethal effects of histamine. Doses of E. coli and Sh. dysenteriae vaccines comparable in toxicity for normal mice to doses of Phase I H. pertussis vaccine also did not sensitize mice to histamine. Mice rendered histamine-sensitive by injections of triple vaccine were no more susceptible to challenge doses of diphtheria or tetanus toxoids than mice previously inoculated with diphtheria or tetanus toxoids and shown to be histamine-resistant. However, histamine-sensitive mice were demonstrated to be more susceptible to passive anaphylaxis than histamine-resistant mice. Inoculation of mice with H. pertussis vaccine sensitized the animals to the lethal effects of H. pertussis, E. coli, and Sh. dysenteriae vaccines. However, the inoculation of mice with E. coli or Sh. dysenteriae vaccine did not increase the susceptibility of the animals to E. coli, Sh. dysenteriae or H. pertussis vaccine. After pertussis inoculation, the sensitivity of mice to histamine and to H. pertussis vaccine ran a parallel course. The possible relationship between the sensitivity of pertussis-injected mice to histamine and to H. pertussis vaccine is discussed. It is suggested that pertussis vaccine may sensitize mice to histamine and to pertussis vaccine by damaging the adrenal gland.