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F G GERMUTH

Publications and source records attributed to F G GERMUTH.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1961

The relationships between serum complement activity and the development of allergic lesions in rabbits.

Total serum hemolytic complement activity is consistently reduced in animals undergoing accelerated "serum sickness". The time of maximum reduction in complement titer invariably coincides with the time of complete antigen disappearance. This temporal relationship supports the belief that the reduction in complement titer is brought about by in vivo antigen-antibody combination. The intravenous administration of a single daily large dose of BGG-precipitated complexes produces a marked but temporary reduction in total complement hemolytic activity. On the other hand, multiple injections of soluble BGG immune complexes prepared in antigen excess failed to even temporarily alter complement titers. Animals undergoing the development of accelerated "serum sickness" treated by either type immune complex showed a significantly reduced incidence of arterial lesions. Apparently, this inhibiting effect on the development of arterial lesions was independent of variations in total complement hemolytic activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1955

Comparative histologic and immunologic studies in rabbits of induced hypersensitivity of the serum sickness type. II. The effect of sensitization to homologous and cross-reactive antigens on the rate of antigen elimination and the development of allergic lesions.

Sensitization of rabbits with bovine albumin and the cross-reactive antigen, egg albumin, increased the rate of bovine albumin elimination following its intravenous administration. Elimination of this antigen was complete in 7 and 10 days respectively instead of approximately 2 weeks as in unsensitized normal animals. The peak incidence of allergic tissue alteration was proportionately accelerated. Certain qualitative and quantitative differences between the histologic responses of the sensitized and unsensitized rabbits were noted. These differences were probably due to the shorter period of antigen-antibody interaction in the sensitized animals in which the antigen was quickly eliminated. The temporal relationship between the histologic and immunologic responses in sensitized animals adds further support to the hypothesis that the lesions which occur after the injection of foreign protein are the result of antigen-antibody combination.

Animals↗
PubMed1953

A comparative histologic and immunologic study in rabbits of induced hypersensitivity of the serum sickness type.

A histologic and quantitative immunologic study was made on a large group of rabbits injected intravenously with a single dose of crystallized bovine albumin and bled and sacrificed at various intervals after injection. Both cardiovascular and renal lesions were encountered in high incidence. The various stages in the development of these lesions were observed from their first appearance until their complete regression. The cardiac, vascular, and renal alterations were morphologically similar to those of rheumatic fever, polyarteritis nodosa, and acute glomerulonephritis, respectively, in man. In addition to those tissue changes ordinarily attributed to hypersensitivity, peculiar granulomatous lesions consisting of epithelioid and foreign body giant cells were encountered in the follicles of the spleen and in the lymph nodes of a large proportion of the animals receiving the antigen. Similar granulomas in the spleen and lymph nodes as well as in other tissues have been described in polyarteritis nodosa. The present experimental demonstration that an epithelioid and giant cell reaction may result from hypersensitivity provides evidence for the allergic origin of those cases of polyarteritis nodosa of unknown etiology containing this type of lesion. In the present study the time of development of the cardiovascular, renal, and granulomatous lesions was determined in relation to the blood clearance of antigen and the time of appearance of circulating antibody. All the tissue lesions developed during the "immune" phase of antigen elimination and regressed after the antigen had been completely eliminated and free antibody had appeared in the circulation. These temporal relationships indicate that the tissue lesions which occur after the intravenous administration of foreign protein are the result of antigen-antibody combination.

Animals↗
PubMed1953

The mechanism of action of cortisone in experimental hypersensitivity. II. Hypersensitivity of the serum sickness type.

Cortisone markedly suppressed the cardiovascular and renal lesions of serum sickness type hypersensitivity which ordinarily develop following the intravenous injection of bovine albumin. The inhibitory effect of cortisone on the allergic granulomatous lesions of the spleen was less striking; the lesions were less extensive, but the percentage of animals affected was unchanged. Cortisone in the dosage employed had no effect on the elimination of antigen following its intravenous administration or on the appearance of circulating antibody. These findings indicate that inhibition of the lesions of serum sickness by cortisone does not depend on the suppression of antibody production. Therefore, it is inferred that cortisone somehow protects the animal from the damaging effects of antigen-antibody union.

Animals↗
PubMed1951

The mechanism of action of 17-hydroxy-11-dehydrocorticosterone (compound E) and of the adrenocorticotropic hormone in experimental hypersensitivity in rabbits.

The concurrent administration of compound E at a daily dosage of 2 mg. per kg. to rabbits receiving daily intracutaneous injections of crystalline egg albumin markedly inhibited the development of anaphylactic hypersensitivity of the Arthus type. ACTH, when given at a similar dosage, produced a much less marked effect. Both hormones suppressed circulating antibody and as with the Arthus reaction, the suppression produced by compound E was much greater than that obtained with ACTH. When treatment with compound E was started following sensitization, there was a rapid decline in circulating antibody and, if the pretreatment serum antibody was low, there was also a progressive decrease in skin reactivity, becoming negative after 5 days of treatment. When the pretreatment serum antibody concentration was great, so that by the termination of treatment the antibody concentration was still above the level ordinarily sufficient for a maximal skin response, the Arthus reaction was unaffected by treatment. These considerations as well as the failure of compound E to inhibit the systemic passive Arthus reaction suggest that the inhibitory effect of compound E and ACTH on the development of experimental hypersensitivity results from the hormonal reduction of circulating antibody. Treatment with compound E had no effect on the rate of disappearance of circulating antibody in the passively immunized rabbit. This finding suggests that ACTH and compound E reduce circulating antibody by inhibiting antibody formation rather than by promoting antibody destruction. The question is raised as to whether the marked lymphoid atrophy produced by these hormones may be related to the interference with antibody production.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗