Testicular Lesions in Rabbits Following Intraspinal Syphilitic Infection.

Abstract

In the course of an investigation concerning the therapeutic efficiency of various chemical compounds in neurosyphilis, it became necessary for us to determine their trypanocidal and spirocheticidal effects in the cerebrospinal system. The central nervous system of animals was infected by the introduction of either trypanosomes or spirochetes into the intraspinal canal. After complete anesthesia of the rabbit is effected, a small incision is made in the parietal region of the skull and the animal then trephined with a small bore.∗ After trephination, a special capillary pipette is introduced into the opening, and the spirochetes or trypanosomes injected into the fourth ventricle by means of a syringe. After the introduction of the microorganisms the incision is sutured, and after complete recovery from the anesthesia, which usually requires two or three hours, the chemical compounds are introduced intravenously into the animals. Our plan was to destroy the trypanosomes or spirochetes after they were introduced into the cerebrospinal system, by the action of small amounts of chemical compounds which were able to penetrate the choroid plexuses and reach the central nervous system. In this manner we were able to sterilize the spinal fluid by the use of various compounds.

The problem consisted in the selection of the most penetrative and at the same time the most effective spirocheticidal substance. It was necessary to develop a technic for the production of a definite infection of the cerebrospinal system, particularly the spinal fluid. In this article we will describe our results with spirochetic infections, while our experiences with trypanosome infections will be reported elsewhere.

Various investigators attempted to infect the central nervous system of rabbits with syphilis. Thus, Uhlenhut 1 tried to inoculate the brains of healthy animals with syphilis, but obtained no positive results.