Abstract
Summary
To investigate the possibility of zymosan's tumor-necrotizing activity in mice being mediated through a modification of the Shwartzman reaction, the mouse strain in which the phenomenon has been studied, was examined for its capacity to display the Shwartzman reaction when tested with competent bacterial endotoxin. No evidence of reaction was seen under conditions appropriate for induction of skin hemorrhages in other mouse strains. Zymosan was also tested for its ability to prepare for and/or provoke the Shwartzman reaction in an inbred, Shwartzman-responsive strain of mice (BSVS), and in rabbits. Consistently negative results were obtained in both systems under conditions in which bacterial endotoxin was uniformly effective. It is concluded, therefore, that zymosan is ineffective as a reagent for the Shwartzman reaction when used at concentrations effective in causing tumor-necrosis.
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