Abstract
Summary
An endotoxin-like febrile response was elicited in rabbits by intravenous inoculation of washed polystyrene latex particles. Alkaline treatment of the latex particles reduced but did not eliminate the pyrogenic activity, whereas particles treated with acid were incapable of inducing a febrile response. Exposure of the non-pyrogenic, acid-treated particles to a suspension of Escherichia coli endotoxin of the phenol-water type restored pyrogenicity to the particles. Exhaustive washing of these endo-toxin-treated particles with non-pyrogenic saline did not remove the fever producing substances.
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