The variation of complement of guinea pigs during scurvy.

Abstract

Since one of us (K) had observed that an intestinal infection markedly lowered the complement titer in guinea pig blood, it became of interest to follow the variation in titer throughout the development and cure of scurvy which, though not now classed as an infectious disease, is accompanied by a definite alteration in the blood vessel walls. The scurvy-producing diet consisted of soy bean meal (autoclaved) 86 per cent, dried yeast 3 per cent, sodium chloride 3 per cent, calcium lactate 3 per cent, and cod liver oil 5 per cent, to which was added 1.0 gm. per day dried boiled cabbage. Scurvy develops in 13 to 16 days in 200 gm. guinea pigs on this food, while merely changing from cooked dried cabbage to fresh cabbage causes this diet to suffice for normal growth in these animals.

The pigs were bled from the heart under light ether anesthesia, twice in the fore period when fresh cabbage was being fed, once in the height of scurvy and again during recovery. One group of animals was then starved and bled after they had lost about 20 per cent of their weight. The effect of inanition during scurvy on complement was thus controlled. Clean, sterile apparatus and exceeding care in the volumetric measurements were emphasized.

From the chart it is seen that during scurvy a definite increase in the complement titer was observed over that in the fore period, while in the convalescent period the titer remained somewhat higher than in the fore period. Starvation resulted in a lowering of the titer. The effect of age, anesthesia and repeated bleedings are negligible according to Kolmer. 1

We realize that the number of animals used (12) is small, but in view of the consistent and unexpected results we have offered them at this time.