Effect of Acidosis upon Production of Agglutinins and on Blood Proteins in Rabbits

Abstract

A few reports in the literature indicate that acidosis hinders the production of agglutinins. Various substances have been used to produce an acidosis. Ammonium chloride produces a prolonged acidosis in man.’ Davesne and Haber thought they obtained a decrease in agglutinin production while administering hydrochloric acid. Moen and Reimann obtained a poor response or no agglutinin production to typhoid vaccine in uncontrolled diabetic patients with acidosis. In the experiments reported here, rabbits were given three 0.5 cc. intravenous injections of suspensions of killed typhoid bacilli on alternate days. In 12 normal rabbits the agglutinin titer averaged 1:320 at the end of the first week, with variations from 1:60 to 1:5120 dilutions, 1:1450 at the end of the second week, 1:800 third and 1:750 at the end of the fourth week. Another series of 12 rabbits were given, in addition, 0.3 to 1.3 cc. of a 10% solution of ammonium chloride intravenously daily. The average agglutinin titer at the end of the first week was 1:50 with variations of from 0 to 1:320, second week 1:20, third week 1:10 and at the end of the fourth week 1:10 dilution. Three rabbits died during the first and second week. The animal with a titer of 1:320 at the end of the first week, later dropping to 1:10, had a plasma CO2 combining power of 46 volumes %, which progressively decreased later to 23.0 volumes %. In 3 rabbits with no agglutinin production throughout the plasma CO2 was consistently below 33 volumes %. The average CO2 values in the animals receiving ammonium chloride was 27 volumes % with variations from 46 to 18.3 volumes %. The average plasma CO2 combining power in normal rabbits was 50 volumes %.