Abstract
During the past year we have carried on studies to determine whether whole bile, or any one of its components, exercise growth inhibiting effects on the human, bovine, and avian types of B. tuberculosis either in vitro or in vivo. To determine the former possibility tubercle bacilli were grown on various media containing ox-bile, as well as on glycerine agar containing various percentages of cholesterol and cholic acid, respectively.
The in vivo experiments were carried out in guinea pigs and rabbits. While ox-bile, suspensions of cholesterol, as well as of cholic acid were administered intraperitoneally and intravenously, procedures which suggested themselves in part by the observations of earlier investigations. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 Furthermore, experimental jaundice was induced in a series of rabbits by ligation of the common bile duct. Some of these animals were then given intravenous injections of virulent tubercle bacilli; others were similarly injected with bacilli grown on cholesterol and cholic acid media. Unjaundiced controls were given corresponding inoculations.
As has already been pointed out by Calmette 1 , 2 tubercle bacilli grow well in the presence of ox-bile, the tendency being to lose their acid fastness if kept transplanted on such media for longer periods of time. Tubercle bacilli grown on glycerine agar mixed with varying quantities of cholesterol, however, do present interesting cultural responses.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.