Anaphylaxis

Abstract

Summary and Conclusions Passive sensitization of turtles was accomplished by injecting them with some of the high titered immune rooster serum used to passively sensitize chick embryos. The reaction was specific and similar to that in the chick embryo. It consisted in a marked slowing of the heart, increase in distole and a decrease in amplitude and a sinking of the heart to a lower level. There was an apparent rise in tone probably due to the latter phenomenon. In 2 turtles that showed positive results for passive sensitization, the hearts survived eighteen hours with regular rhythms. Sensitivity had not returned during this time. Reversed anaphylaxis was not demonstrated in 7 turtles and a doubtful positive was obtained in 1. The incubation period for the latter was two hours. The shortest incubation period for passive sensitization was four hours while the average was twenty-four to forty-eight hours. High titered immune serum from rabbits failed to passively sensitize in a short series of 16 turtles.