Reactions of Subcutaneous Tissue to Sodium Ricinoleate and Other Foreign Substances.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether there is a specific cytological response of subcutaneous tissue to detoxified toxin as compared with the reaction to a pure toxin. For further comparison of the reactions, one of the least toxic colloidal dyes was used.

Adult rabbits were injected subcutaneously with single doses of 1 cc. of 1% trypan blau in distilled water, 1 cc. of 1% sodium ricinoleate in distilled water, 1 cc. of diphtheria toxin in 1/500 dilution, and 1 cc. of diphtheria vaccine, i. e., a combination of sodium ricinoleate and diphtheria toxin as prepared by Dr. W. P. Larson of the University of Minnesota. Subcutaneous tissue spreads were made by the spread method used by Maximow, von Möllendorf and others, and were fixed immediately in Zenker-formol. The stains used were Dominici's Eosin-Orange G and Toluidine Blue, Maximow's Hematoxylin Azure II-Eosin, Heidenhain's Iron Hematoxylin, and Weigert's Iron Hematoxylin. Tissue was taken at 45 minute, 1, 2, 3, and 4 day intervals for direct comparison of the effect of each of the named substances.

Very little difference in the appearance of the site of injection was noted in the 45 minute stage in the majority of cases. There were a few cases in which the area of injection turned greyish white when soap, toxin or vaccine was used, and then gradually became mildly inflamed. Some of the animals chewed at the irritated spot and produced an open sore, but no abscesses were found. When incision was made 45 minutes after injection, the subcutaneous tissue was very soft and gelatinous with a considerable quantity of fluid which probably was due in part to the undiffused irritant. The tissue was of pearly white color except with trypan blau, which had stained everything intensely blue.