Anaphylactic Reactions Produced by Azodyes in Animals Sensitized With Azoproteins.

Abstract

In the course of investigations on inhibition effects 1 in animals sensitized with azoproteins, anaphylactic reactions were observed following the injection of azodyes containing the same specific group as the antigen. These reactions did not occur regularly, but in a considerable number of animals; in some batches of animals the results were not well pronounced.

In such an experiment guinea pigs were sensitized with an azo-protein prepared from dextro-paraaminotartranilic acid and horse serum 2 and were found to be sensitive to 0.35-0.7 mg. of an antigen made from dextro-paraaminotartranilic acid and chicken serum. To such animals were given intravenous injections of an azodye made by coupling diazotized dextro-paraaminotartranilic acid and resorcinol. Two guinea pigs injected with 5 mgs. each did not show any symptoms; of 8 which received doses from 0.5 to 2.5 mgs. all but one showed reactions which consisted, in 5 animals, in a temperature drop from 1.3° to 2.4°C. and slight anaphylactic symptoms or general weakness and paresis of the hind legs. The 3 remaining animals showed typical severe anaphylactic shock and died, one after night, one after an hour and the third after 4 minutes. Eight other animals of this batch were injected in the same way with an azodye prepared from levo instead of dextro-paraaminotartranilic acid. These showed no anaphylactic symptoms and there was only a slight temperature drop at most of 0.6°, or an increase of temperature.

In another series of sensitized animals 2 out of 3 injected with 2.5 mg. of the homologous azodye had a significant decrease of temperature; two injected with 0.5 mg. showed no symptoms, while of 5 which received 1 mg. one became very sick (temperature drop of 3.1°C) and 3 had typical anaphylactic symptoms and died after 4, 5 and 52 minutes respectively.