Abstract
Summary
Percutaneous applications of pentadecylcatechol or poison ivy extract to 16 monkeys resulted in sensitization of only one pentadecylcatechol treated and 2 poison ivy treated monkeys. The most sensitive monkey showed 50- to 100-fold less dermal reactivity than guinea pigs or humans. Three monkeys picked at random from the group of non-reactors gave well developed contact reactions to FDNB after primary exposure to it. The specific unresponsiveness of these monkeys to pentadecylcatechol and poison ivy extract might be attributed to their prior contact with antigenically related antigens in their natural habitat. A regimen of oral and parenteral administration of pentadecylcatechol or poison ivy extract produced no toxic effects as judged by blood count and serum chemistry. Gross and histologic studies on the viscera of 12 monkeys and on the brains of 3 failed to show any abnormalities related to the feedings or injection of the antigens.
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