Mary Alexander Fink

Anaphylaxis in the mouse: possible relation of the Schultz-Dale reaction to serotonin release.

Summary (1) The egg white sensitized or normal mouse uterus is 1,000 times more sensitive to serotonin than it is to histamine. (2) This sensitivity is completely abolished in the presence of two known serotonin antagonists, LSD and reserpine. (3) LSD and reserpine, which as far as is known inhibit only serotonin, always and completely prevented the anaphylactic contraction on strips of demon-strably sensitized uterus in the ten trials with each drug.

Anaphylaxis in guinea pig: improbability of release of serotonin in the Schultz-Dale reaction.

Summary 1. The Schultz-Dale reaction in egg white or BSA sensitized guinea pig uterus or ileum persisted in the presence of serotonin antagonists LSD and BOL. 2. Anaphylactic contraction of these tissues could be partially or completely blocked with varying concentrations of yohimbine, gramine and bufotenine, but the reaction to histamine was affected similarly. 3. It was impossible to demonstrate the release of serotonin from sensitized guinea pig lung, uterus or ileum in the presence of highly serotonin sensitive mouse uterus. 4. Persisting anaphylactic contraction of histamine-poisoned guinea pig uterus was not diminished in the presence of BOL or LSD.

In vitro Anaphylaxis in the Sensitized Mouse Uterus

Summary 1. The Schultz-Dale technic for demonstrating anaphylaxis in vitro was used successfully on uteri from egg white sensitized mice. 2. The anaphylactic reaction persisted in the presence of either atropine or Benadryl, thus ruling out any major role for histamine or acetylcholine in mouse anaphylaxis. 3. The uterine mast cells were found to be morphologically unaffected by in vitro anaphylaxis. 4. Pertussis vaccine administered under varying conditions did not increase in vitro sensitivity to anaphylaxis. Immunization with egg white alone increased histamine sensitivity in vitro as much as did the pertussis vaccine.

Antibody Production in BALB/c Mice Following Injection of Lyophilized Tumor S621 in Freund's Adjuvant.

Summary 1. Antibodies were demonstrated in BALB/c mice which had received an injection of lyophilized homologous tumor S621 in Freunds adjuvant by the following technics: tumor regression; in vitro anaphylaxis using the Schultz-Dale reaction; decrease in the number of exudate cells when cells were incubated with antigen and complement. 2. Mice which recovered from a challenge injection of viable tumor were shown to react when tested by the Schultz-Dale technic.

Variations in sensitivity to anaphylaxis and to histamine in inbred strains of mice.

Summary 1. Based on the reactions of mice of 5 inbred strains sensitized to egg albumin, evidence is presented which indicates a genetic variation in the ability of mice to respond with anaphylactic shock. 2. The response by anaphylaxis was not found to be positively correlated with the amount of circulating antibody, and it is suggested that anaphylaxis in the mouse is not dependent on this antibody. 3. One inbred strain of mouse, C3H, which was found to be significantly more resistant to anaphylaxis, was also more resistant to histamine. A second strain, however, very susceptible to anaphylaxis, was no more sensitive to histamine than any other. 4. No sex difference in sensitivity to histamine or to anaphylaxis was demonstrable.

Viral Induced Immunity to Syngeneic Rauscher Murine Leukemia Cells, in the Absence of Allogeneic Inhibition:

Summary BALB/c mice were immunized with Rauscher murine leukemia virus. Both formalin-treated virulent virus, and a live, attenuated strain of the virus were used as antigens. Immune serums and immune spleen cells harvested 64 days later caused lethal damage to the virus transformed malignant cell. The effectiveness of immune serum was removed by heat inactivation and was restored by the addition of guinea pig complement. Either X-irradiation or freezing and thawing eliminated the competence of the immunocytes. Normal spleen cells agglutinated to target cells by phytohemagglutinin were not capable of causing lethal damage to the malignant cells. Although allogeneic inhibition has been suggested as the possible mechanism underlying tumor immunity and surveillance against neoplasia in syngeneic and autochthonous systems, it does not appear to play a significant role in the immunity to transplantation of malignant cells that follows immunization with killed or attenuated murine leukemia virus.

Enhanced Production of Antibody to a Murine Leukemia Virus (Rauscher) in the I lost of Origin

Summary Potent antiserum was prepared against a murine leukemia virus (Rauscher) in BALB/c mice by an immunizing regimen consisting of two inoculations in which the second one is given only after an interval sufficient for the primary response to wane. An interval of 90 days or more following a primary injection of antigen emulsified in Freunds adjuvant was optimal. The early antibody response to Rauscher virus in ET-treated mice is also described. The gamma-M antibodies, which appeared as early as the third day after a single antigenic stimulus, were readily detected by HA tests, but failed to precipitate with virus in immunodiffusion tests.

Hemagglutination studies of the viral antigen in a murine leukemia (Rauscher).

Summary The tanned cell HA and HAI methods were adapted for study of a murine leukemia virus (Rauscher). The tests using antibody prepared in Rhesus monkeys were shown to be sensitive and specific for detection and estimation of virus and of anti-viral antibody. Antisera produced in 14 individual monkeys had titers ranging from 1:20 to 1:5,120 with a geometric mean of 1:320 when tested against JLS-V5 sensitized SRBC. As little as 0.2 μg/ml of viral protein was detected by HAI.

A STUDY OF RABBIT ANTIBODY AGAINST ROUS SARCOMA VIRUS.

Summary An antiserum against Rons sarcoma virus prepared in the rabbit was found to contain a large quantity of complement-fixing antibodies for RSV and for normal chicken tissue, as well as a high titre of neutralizing antibody against RSV. After absorption of the serum with sheep erythro-cytes and normal chicken tissues, comole-ment-fixing antibody reacting only with RSV remained, as well as a large quantity of the neutralizing antibody. These findings indicate that RSV antibody prepared in the rabbit is capable of fixing complement with RSV. They also support the thesis that the antibody neutralizing RSV is directed against viral and not against normal tissue antigens. We are grateful to Dr. F. J. Rauscher, under whose supervision and in whose laboratory the neutralization tests were conducted; and to Mr. J. P. Kvedar for preparation of the RSV and chicken tissue antigens.