Study on reagin content of spinal fluid

Abstract

A CCORDING to Merritt and Fremont-Smith,l normal cerebrospinal fluid contains none of the antibodies normally present in the blood; nor do any of the antibodies acquired as a result of vaccination or immunization by disease enter the spinal fluid through the intact choroid plexus or meninges. Kolme? likewise says that cerebrospinal fluid is free of normal or natural antibodies. However, there is evidence to show that even in the uninjured state the choroid apparatus is not entirely impermeable. according to Kolmer,2 in typhoid fever and other infections accompanied by a large amount of agglutinins in the blood, agglutinins in a lesser quantity Will be found in the cerebraspinal fluid. Nelis,3 after injecting Paratyphoid B into the blood stream of rabbits, demonstrated antibodies in the spinal fluid in low titer, when high titer was found in the blood stream. Sohier and his coworker9 recovered tetanus antitoxin in the spinal fluid of human beings passively immunized with tetanus antitoxin. These investigator9 also demonstrated antitoxin in the spinal fluid of human beings actively immunized with tetanus and diphtheria toxins. Becht and Gree9 found traces of bacterial agglutinins in spinal fluid of immunized dogs. Hektoen and Carlson injected dogs with goat blood and found tra,ces of lysins and agglutinins at the height of immunization in the spinal fluid. This combined experience clearly demonstrates that the above mentioned antibodies may traverse the choroid barrier. So far we have been dealing with antibodies which show a eomparatively ready diffusibility. The atopic reagin, however, has a strong affinity for fixed tissue and evinces a refractoriness toward passage through an anatomic membrane. Coca and Grove* have shown that local passive sensitization of the skin endures for at least four weeks. Precipitins and antitoxins readily pass the placental barrier; yet Bell and Erikssong were unable to find reagins in cord blood from atopic women showing high titers of reagins in their blood. ZohnlO made a similar investigation in artificially sensitized women. He injected prepartum women with extract of Ascaris lunzbricoides until reagins appeared in the blood. Cord blood failed to show Ascaris reagins. Spain and NewellI and Parlato12 demonstrated reagins in blister fluid