Mechanism of Protective Effect of Hydrocortisone in Staphylococci Infected Adrenalectomized Mice. ∗ †

Abstract

Summary

1. The increased tolerance of mice to an i.v. challenge of staphylococci as compared to an injection of the bacteria by the i.p. route was found to be related to the rapid clearance of bacteria from the blood following the i.v. injection. However, adrenalectomy markedly reduced the resistance to an i.v. challenge without altering the rates of clearance or bacterial destruction by the R. E. system. 2. It was postulated that digestion of the bacteria by the R. E. system liberated bacterial material which was noxious to the adrenalectomized mouse. “Solubilization” of the bacterial preparation increased its toxicity as compared to control viable or heat-sterilized preparations, indicating the independence of this toxicity to numbers of viable bacteria. 3. Hydrocortisone pretreatment of adrenalectomized mice was found to be protective, relevant to dosage, in minute amounts, against i.v. challenge with either viable staphylococci or extracts of this organism.