Abstract
Previous reports by Také and Marine on hemolysin formation in suprarenalectomized rabbits and by Jaffe and Marine on agglutinin (typhoid) formation in suprarenalectomized rats have shown that both hemolysin and agglutinin formation are increased in suprarenalectomized animals. The antibody titer may be two or three times greater than in controls, using the same doses of antigen.
It seemed desirable to test antitoxin formation also in suprarenalectomized animals. The method used consisted of injecting subcutaneously in the right flank the standard toxin-antitoxin mixture (1 cc. equals 0.1 L.+ dose) of the New York Board of Health furnished us through the courtesy of Prof. William H. Park. The Schick tests were made at weekly intervals, using in order the right lower, right upper, left lower and left upper abdomen as sites. The details and results are given in the preceding table.
Of the 5 doubly suprarenalectomized rabbits which survived in good condition, 4 had negative Schick on the 21st day and one on the 28th day. Of the 7 controls, 4 were negative on the 28th day, 2 were still positive on the 28th day and one (492) was negative on the 18th day. It is noteworthy that this control showed a negative Schick earlier than any of the other rabbits and with less toxin-antitoxin. Nothing unusual in the clinical appearance of the rabbit was detected. It died about four months later while attempting ether anesthesia, and at necropsy acute dilatation of the heart with pulmonary edema and congestion were the prominent findings. With this exception it may be stated that the suprarenalectomized rabbits formed antitoxin as rapidly as, and in this series more rapidly than, the controls.
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