Lethal factor released from submandibular grafts in mice.

Abstract

The present series of experiments clearly demonstrates the existence of the lethal factor in the submandibular gland of male BALB/c mice. This lethal factor was released from the submandibular gland of male mice when the glands were transplanted autologously into submandibular-sialoadenectomized male mice or isologously into normal intact adult male or female mice. Neither the sublingual nor the parotid grafts demonstrated the same effect. The lethal effect was not observed in the experiments with submandibular grafts obtained from immature male or mature female mice. As a host, the female mouse was found to be more susceptible to the lethal factor. There was a linear relationship between the strength of the lethal factor and the number of submandibular grafts used. The site of production of the lethal factor is unknown. It was extremely unusual to see the death of host mice which merely received a normal organ other than the submandibular gland.