Studies on the Role of Histamine in the Increased Susceptibility to Bacterial Endotoxins Induced by Pertussis Vaccine

Abstract

The injection of Hemophilus pertussis vaccine increased the susceptibility to histamine in Swiss-Webster mice but not in ABC mice. Injections of intact brucella cells or of brucella endotoxin did not increase susceptibility to histamine in either Swiss-Webster or ABC mice. Both Swiss-Webster and ABC mice demonstrated an increased susceptibility to bacterial endotoxins after pertussis vaccine. Pertussis vaccination did not alter the susceptibility of Swiss-Webster mice to the histamine-releasing agent, 48/80. Pertussis vaccination abolished the protective action of chlorpromazine against endotoxin but did not alter the protection afforded by adrenocorticosteroids. The relationship between susceptibility to endotoxin and susceptibility to histamine following pertussis vaccine is discussed.