Anaphylactogenic Properties of Soluble Antigen-Antibody Complexes in the Guinea Pig and Rabbit

Abstract

It has been confirmed that anaphylactic reactions can be produced in the guinea pig and rabbit by the intravenous injection of soluble antigen-antibody complexes. In the guinea pig, the symptoms, the emphysema produced in the lungs and the inhitition of symptoms by antihistamine were similar to those observed in the classical passive and active anaphylactic reactions. There was a preferential localization of the I131 activity in the lungs of guinea pigs during anaphylaxis induced by the injection of BSA-I131 anti-BSA complexes. A similar localization of I131 activity was observed in the lungs of guinea pigs passively sensitized with I131 anti-BSA and challenged 2 days later with BSA. A larger amount of activity was localized in the lungs of guinea pigs dying in anaphylaxis than in the lungs of guinea pigs having only mild reactions. A prior injection of antigen into guinea pigs increased the severity of the reactions produced by a subsequent injection of soluble antigen-antigody complexes. Considerable complement activity was removed from the blood of gunea pigs injected with soluble BSA-anti-BSA complexes, even when no or only mild anaphylactic symptoms occurred.