Transfusion Experiments and Survival Studies in Parabiosis Intoxication. ∗

Abstract

Summary

(1) Transfusion of the hybrid mouse in parabiosis with a parental strain partner was followed by shunting of blood to the latter. The hybrid mouse was not benefited. (2) When the hybrid mouse was separated from the parental strain partner 10 days after union, the hybrid mouse showed a temporary weight gain, followed by progressive wasting and death. Transfusion of the hybrid mouse to a normal hematocrit level did not alter this course of events. (3) When separation and transfusion of the hybrid were carried out 6 days after parabiosis, there was a greater gain in weight than in nontransfused controls, and a reduction in mortality from 11/12 to 6/8. In both transfused and non-transfused groups survival time was significantly prolonged, compared to hybrid mice remaining in parabiosis. (4) Transfusion of hybrid mice suffering from homologous disease resulted in a reduction of mortality from 8/10 to 6/10 but otherwise the course of the disease was not altered. (5) Parabiosis intoxication, in the strain combination employed, appears to involve the effects of both anemia and the graft-vs-host reaction. (6) Syngeneic blood transfusion is of little value in treatment of the graft-vs-host reaction in the strain combination employed.