Abstract
When we made our investigations 1 on respiratory anaphylaxis (asthma) we did not know whether the sensitization brought about by the inhalation of a dry antigenic dust was general or purely local in character.
If sensitization and shock are brought about through inhalation, and, anaphylactic death demonstrated by a subsequent intravenous injection, it is plausible to assume that this sensitization might be relegated exclusively to the respiratory tract. However we have no definite evidence to support either the local or general character of this particular form of hypersensitiveness.
More recently 2 we showed that a pregnant guinea pig who had demonstrated respiratory anaphylaxis throughout pregnancy actually transmitted similar hypersensitiveness to her offspring in utero. This points to the assumption that inhaled antigens do circulate in the blood of the sensitized animal. In order to show further proof for this fact we have carried out the following experiments.
Young virgin guinea pigs were sensitized by inhalation to dry horse dander dust. After a suitable incubation period, a laparotomy was performed under ether anesthesia and the uterine strip was removed. This strip was suspended in an oxygenated bath of Lucke's solution and the Dale experiment was carried out in the usual manner, using an extract of horse dander as antigen. 1 After the excision of the uterine strip, the abdomen was sewed up and the animal allowed to completely recover from her anesthesia. When the animal was apparently normal again it was given an intravenous injection of the same solution used for the Dale experiment. By this method we were able to show in the same animal a positive uterine contraction and a typical anaphylactic death after intravenous injection. This was shown in 11 out of 39 animals.
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