Enhancing Effect of Cortisone upon Poliomyelitis Infection (Strain MEF1) in Hamsters and Mice

Abstract

Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisone in combination or cortisone alone produce a marked acceleration of poliomyelitis infection (strain MEF1) in mice and an extraordinary enhancement of susceptibility to this infection in hamsters giving rise to a violent and uniformly fatal disease. ACTH alone fails to produce this effect possibly due to elaboration of an unknown factor capable of reversing the enhancing effect of cortisone. The expts. seem to indicate the existence of a significant relation between adrenocortical function and susceptibility of mice and hamsters to exptl. poliomyelitis.