X Irradiation and Toxin Neutralization by Antitoxin
A small area of the skin of normal rabbits was exposed to 1000 r and, after a given interval, 15 units of horse serum diphtheria antitoxin were injected subcutaneously in that area and simultaneously a lethal (25 MLD) dose of homologous toxin in another area. As controls, non-irradiated rabbits of similar weight were injected with the same quantities of antitoxin and of toxin at the same time as the irradiated rabbits and under identical conditions. Five intervals following the irradiation were employed for the injection of the antitoxin and the toxin: 1 to 3 hours, 24 hours, 7 days, 14 days, and 90 days. It was found that, of the irradiated rabbits, 55% survived the toxin when the antitoxin was injected 1 to 3 hours after the exposure, 100% survived when the antitoxin was injected 24 hours after, 47% survived when the antitoxin was injected 7 days after, 27% survived when the antitoxin was injected 14 days after and none of the rabbits survived when the antitoxin was injected 90 days after. Of the non-irradiated controls, an average of 20% survived the toxin. The results indicated that a restricted amount of antitoxin injected subcutaneously in an irradiated area up to 7 days after exposure to 1000 r was more effective in the neutralization of a lethal dose of toxin than the same amount injected into a corresponding area of non-irradiated rabbits and the most marked neutralization occurred 24 hours after the exposure. By 14 days after the exposure, the neutralization of the toxin reached the control level, but 90 days after, no neutralization of the toxin was observed. The basis for the non-neutralization of the toxin in any of the rabbits was apparently not an insufficiency of the subcutaneouslyinjected antitoxin, which consisted of 15 units, since 5 units injected intravenously were found to be ample for neutralization of the same dose of toxin. The non-protection was due most likely to the localization of the proteins of the antitoxin, consisting of 0.75 mg, in the area of injection, preventing thereby the antitoxic fraction from reaching the toxin in time for neutralization. When the 15 units of antitoxin were injected in the irradiated area 1 to 3 hours after exposure to 1000 r, 45% of the rabbits showed localization of the protein. None of the rabbits showed localization when injected 24 hours after, 53% showed localization when injected 7 days after, 73% showed localization when injected 14 days after and 100% showed localization of the 0.75 mg protein when injected 90 days after the exposure to 1000 r. With regard to the controls, an average of 80% of the non-irradiated rabbits localized this fraction of a milligram of protein in the subcutaneously injected area. Localization in these experiments was undoubtedly temporary in nature, preceding proteolysis. But the length of time of localization was apparently sufficient to so retain the antitoxic fraction in the injected area as to prevent it from reaching and neutralizing the toxin. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-16-028785
- OSTI ID:
- 4791650
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol. 107, Issue 3; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-62; ISSN 0022-1899
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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