Study of the Effect of Hematoporphyrin on Hypophyseal-Adrenal Relationships. ∗

Abstract

Summary and Conclusions

1. Four hundred and forty-six mice were sensitized to horse serum, and 295 of these were treated with ACTH, Cortisone, hematoporphyrin, phenol, and air jets, in order to compare their influence on the survival of these mice when given a shocking dose of horse serum. 2. Twenty-six percent or 38 of 148 control mice sensitized to horse serum survived. 3. One hundred percent (41) of the horse serum-sensitized mice survived a shocking dose when treated with 3 mg of Cortisone 24 hours prior to the injection of 1 cc of horse serum. 4. ACTH failed to protect sensitized mice from shocking doses of horse serum, as did low doses of hemato-porphyrin and stress procedures. Both of the latter procedures appeared to increase the incidence of death from anaphylaxis. 5. Hematoporphyrin in doses of 4-6 mg protected mice from shocking doses of horse serum, since a significantly higher percentage (45%) of the mice survived. 6. While our evidence indicates that high doses of hematoporphyrin protect mice from anaphylactic shock, no conclusions can be drawn concerning the hypothesis that porphyrins stimulate the hypophysis, because ACTH failed to exhibit any influence on anaphylaxis.