Observations on Poison IVY Hypersensitiveness in Guinea Pigs

[摘要] A dietary deficiency in vitamine C inhibited the development of hypersensitiveness to poison ivy in guinea pigs.A well developed hypersensitiveness was demonstrated 7 days after the first application of the extract.Injection of the extract intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, and intravenously did not result in hypersensitiveness or did so to a slight degree only, whereas application to the skin surface resulted in a definite hypersensitiveness.Sensitization of tissues other than the epidermis was not demonstrated.Passive transfer with the serum could not be demonstrated.Excision of the area of skin to which a sensitizing application had been made was ineffective in preventing the development of hypersensitiveness provided such removal was made from 18 to 24 hours or longer after application. Excision of the site before this time prevented the development of sensitization.The method of spread of hypersensitiveness from the site of application of the extract over the general body surface was investigated but positive evidence was not obtained.Histological study of the lesions revealed evidence of an acute inflammatory reaction in both epidermis and papillary layer of the corium, with considerable necrosis of epidermal cells. This reaction was observed in both a sensitized and a non-sensitized guinea pig but was definitely more marked in the former than in the latter.Attempts to sensitize the rat, rabbit, and cat to poison ivy were unsuccessful.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）