The Molecular Ratio between “Tissular” Antibodies and Released Histamine during the Anaphylactic Reaction in Isolated Guinea Pig Lung Preparations

Abstract

Abstract The introduction of quantitative methods in studies on passive anaphylaxis in the guinea pig by Kabat and his co-workers (1–3) established that the severity of anaphylactic shock is determined by the quantity of antibodies injected and that approximately 30 µg of antibody N (Ab N) was a threshold lethal dose. Furthermore it is now well known that acute anaphylactic death in the guinea pig is mediated by histamine released in the lungs. In vitro experiments with either chopped (4) or perfused lungs (5) from sensitized guinea pigs have demonstrated histamine release after introduction of the antigen in the bath or the perfusion fluid. The perfusion technique is particularly interesting because the blood and circulating antibodies are removed by the perfusion fluid before the introduction of the antigen. Thus, only “tissular” antibodies remain in the lungs for the initiation of the anaphylactic reaction on arrival of the antigen.