Delayed absorption of proteins in the guinea pig

Abstract

1. 1. From these experiments it is seen that when untreated solutions of purified egg albumin are injected subcutaneously into sensitized guinea pigs, fatal anaphylaxis is produced if the dosage is in excess of 12.5 mg. 2. 2. If similar solutions are suspended in 10 per cent polyvinyl alcohol, fatal anaphylaxis is not produced until 27.5 mg. of egg albumin are injected. 3. 3. If similar solutions are treated with protamine-zine and then suspended in 10 per cent polyvinyl alcohol, fatal anaphylaxis is not produced until 50.0 mg. are injected. 4. 4. This delay in the production of fatal anaphylactic shock has probably been effected by a delay in the absorption of the antigen from the subcutaneous tissues, and in experiment 3 it is seen that four times the dose of antigen is tolerated by the pigs. The delayed reaction probably results from the slower absorption of the antigen through lymph channels rather than the more direct absorption through the capillaries. 5. 5. Fatal anaphylaxis is only produced in the guinea pig when amounts of antigen in excess of 12.5 mg. are absorbed during a short period, probably only a few minutes. If the absorption is delayed sufficiently, so that amounts less than 12.5 mg. are absorbed at any one moment, but are absorbed continuously over a period of hours, the animal will not suffer fatal shock.