Anaphylactoid Reaction of the Mouse to Dextran. ∗

Abstract

Summary and conclusions

The mouse has been found to exhibit signs of an anaphylac-toid reaction to partially hydrolyzed dex-trans of 41,000 and 80,000 average molecular weight. In the unanesthetized animal the reaction was characterized by minimal clinical symptoms and markedly increased capillary permeability detected by T-1824 blueing of the skin, but in animals under barbiturate anesthesia it resulted in cyanosis and death. The reaction was prevented by epinephrine, ether, and Phenergan, and was not evoked by administration of other plasma volume expanders.

An anaphylactoid reaction to dextran has previously been encountered only in the rat. The comparatively innocuous nature of the reaction in the unanesthetized mouse undoubtedly accounts for its having gone generally unnoticed in this animal. We suggest that the mouse is not the most suitable experimental animal for use in evaluating LMWD as a therapeutic agent, as the anaphylactoid reaction may interfere with and confuse the interpretation of any possible therapeutic effects.