Hemorrhagic reactions in animals sensitized with ovalbumin in adjuvants containing mycobacteria. II. Relation to "delayed" hypersensitivity.

Abstract

1. Massive hemorrhages in skin and subcutaneous tissue of guinea pigs sensitized with egg albumin incorporated in water-in-oil adjuvants containing mycobacteria caused by subcutaneous injection of large amounts of egg albumin, failed to occur in guinea pigs which had been sensitized by injection of egg albumin at one site and mycobacteria in oil at a remote site. This indicates that presence of killed tubercle bacilli at site of injection of antigen modifies the process of sensitization to ovalbumin, manifested by hemorrhage when large amounts of egg albumin were injected subcutaneously. 2. Guinea pigs sensitized by injection of egg albumin incorporated in complete adjuvants on the flank had hemorrhagic skin reactions if the sensitizing injection was intracutaneous, but not if it was made subcutaneously. Injections in the nuchal area were effective whether intracutaneous, subcutaneous or intramuscular. 3. For inducing hemorrhagic skin reactions. 0.03 mg of killed and dried M. tuberculosis was necessary in the adjuvant emulsion used for sensitization of male guinea pigs. For male guinea pigs, 0.02 mg of mycobacteria was not effective, but was sufficient for female animals. 4. In guinea pigs sensitized by intracutaneous route using 2.5 mg of egg albumin and 1 mg M. tuberculosis, the systemic reaction elicited by subcutaneous injection of 50 mg of egg albumin was not characteristic of protracted anaphylaxis. Body temperatures were normal or slightly above normal, indicating that anaphylactic shock hypothermia is “neutralized” by concurrent systemic “delayed” reactions.