The study of host defense mechanisms of the nose. Third report: absorption of an antigen from the nasal mucosa

Abstract

Nasal provocation test, by placing the allergen disc on the nasal mucosa of the patient with pollinosis consecutively, brought easily the systemic symptoms such as cough, periorbital edema, and urticaria. Similarly, the sensitized guinea pigs showed a change upon respiratory examination after the nasal administration of a large doses of the allergen. On the other band, an extract of Bordetella bronchiseptica induced an anaphylactic reaction in guinea pigs and γ1 antibody participated in this reaction. After the nasal administration of radioisotope labeled extract of the bacteria, radioactivity in the blood of guinea pigs sensitized with the extract, was lower than that of non-sensitized guinea pigs. These facts suggest that the nasal mucosa could absorb a high molecular substance such as an antigen, and that the existence of the antibody in nasal mucosa has a great influence on absorption of the antigen from nasal mucosa.