Abstract
Allergenicity of the cockroach, Blattella germanica L. (B. g.), was studied by means of the following examinations, namely basophil degranulation (BD) test in rabbits and humans, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in rabbits and rats, and prick test in humans. Also examined was the cross-antigenicity among the crude antigens of cockroaches and house-dust mites. Inhibition effect of several anti-asthmatic drugs on BD test in rabbits and humans was tested additionally. Inoculation of crude B. g. antigen into mice and rabbits produced specific IgE antibodies detectable by BD test and PCA reaction. Although the cross-antigenicities were seen among several kinds of cockroach antigens including the whole body antigens from B. g., Periplaneta americana, and P. fuliginosa, and from the feces and saliva of B. g., none of these cockroach antigens cross-reacted with the antigen from the housedust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae. Of the six fractions collected from the crude B. g. antigen through Sephadex G-100 column, F-2,with molecular weight of 25,000-45,000,showed the maximum activity in BD test in rabbits in IgE production in mice, and in the prick tests in humans who suffered from asthma. The effect of ca. 50% inhibition on BD in rabbits and humans was seen in aminophylline and ketotifen treatment each at (10)^<-3>M concentration. From these results, the BD test in rabbits proved to be one of the reliable bioassay methods applicable to the screening of anti-allergic agents.
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