Herbert J. Harwick

Mycoplasmal Arthritis of the Mouse: Development of Cellular Hypersensitivity to Normal Synovial Tissue

Summary Cellular hypersensitivity to normal mouse synovial tissue was found in arthritic mice infected by iv injection of Mycoplasma pulmonis but not in uninfected normal mice. Hypersensitivity was determined by inhibition of migration of peritoneal macrophages in the presence of an antigen made from normal mouse synovium. Since, in a previous study, no correlation was found between the presence of mycoplasmas in arthritic joints and the extent of arthritis, this data suggests that both microbiological and immunological mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Addendum. An additional experiment was performed to test the specificity of the reaction to synovial antigen. Cells from 12 mice infected 14 to 35 weeks and 12 age-matched controls were incubated in the presence or absence of an antigen prepared from normal mouse kidney by the method outlined for synovial antigen. Using 12.5 μg/ml (the highest concentration not affecting cells from normal mice) the migration area from the infected animals with antigen was 65.47 ± 7.97 cm2; without antigen, 60.49 ± 5.58 cm2; controls with antigen 40.74 ± 4.25 cm2; without antigen 38.69 ± 3.05 cm2. Thus no significant effect was seen in either infected or control animals. We thank Gussie Goldberg, Jessie Hardin, Mike Y. Kubota, Judy Noel, and Melvaline Oliver for their excellent technical assistance.

Relation Between Bacteriocin Production and Virulence of Streptococcus faecalis var. liquefaciens

Summary Eight strains of Streptococcus faecalis var. liquefaciens were classified as bacteriocin producing or nonproducing on the basis of their effect on microbial L-forms. Four strains produced bacteriocin, and four did not. There was a significant association between bacteriocin production and ability to produce hematogenous pyelonephritis in the rat.

Effect of renal physicochemical milieu on stimulation of human lymphocytes by phytohemagglutinin.

The effect of changes in certain physicochemical parameters, analogous to those occurring in the kidney, on stimulation of normal human lymphocytes by phytohemagglutinin was studied. Increase in osmolality by sucrose or urea, and increases in concentration of sodium, potassium and calcium all significantly inhibited stimulation while magnesium did not. Lowering pH to 6.8 and 6.5 inhibited stimulation. Raising the pH to 8.0 had no effect bu at pH 8.4 stimulation was decreased. The effect was largely but not entirely due to decrease in viability.

Developmental Changes of Immunoglobulins in Rats Treated Neonatally with Hydrocortisone

Summary Serum globulin and IgG levels were measured by radial immunodiffusion from 3 to 75 days after birth in rats neo-natally treated with 1 mg of cortisol acetate. In controls, globulins rose steadily during suckling, peaked at 11 days, and remained high until weaning, when they dropped considerably. Thereafter, they rose steadily until 75 days. In treated animals, levels increased slowly during development and were significantly lower than controls until 30 days. Serum IgG followed a similar pattern. The most severe immunological deficit in runts began on Day 12. The most marked mortality in treated rats also began at this age and in part may be due to the severe immunological impairment. No difference was detected in absorption of IgG from the gastrointestinal tract of the two groups. However, dramatic deficits were demonstrated in the ability of treated rats to synthesize antibody when sensitized with a t-dependent antigen. Thus, the difference in immunological competence is due to endogenous deficits produced by a single injection of cortisol acetate at birth. We gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Willie Mills, Peggy Cohen, and David Chia.

Pyelonephritis. XIII. Effect of Congenital Hydronephrosis on Treatment of Experimental Pyelonephritis

Summary To determine the effect of hydronephrosis on treatment of pyelonephritis, 85 Slonaker-Addis rats with congenital right unilateral partial ureteral obstruction and 120 with two normal kidneys were infected intravenously with Streptococcus jaecalis. Two weeks after infection one-half of each group was treated with 25,000 units penicillin G twice daily for 3 weeks. Measurement of renal microbial population after therapy ended indicated that the efficacy of treatment was significantly impaired not only in the hydronephrotic (right) kidney, but also in the contralateral normal (left) kidney.