Response of Tuberculin Skin Test to ACTH and Cortisone in Tuberculous Guinea Pigs

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Abstract
51 guinea pigs were infected with virulent tubercle bacilli. The animals were divided into 3 groups of 17 each. Group 1 received 1 mg. of cortisone daily beginning the day before the infection was started, and continued until the observations were completed. Animals in group 2 were used to observe the effects of varying dosages of ACTH and cortisone on the tuberculin reaction. The animals in group 3 served as controls. All animals in the control group showed strongly positive reactions to PPD after 6 wks. At this time studies were made on the animals in group 2. The animals in group 1 showed tuberculin reactions which were indistinguishable from the controls. 20 mg. daily doses of cortisone for 3 days modified slightly the tuberculin test, but smaller amts. were without effect. ACTH in doses of 10 mg. daily for 8 days produced weakly positive reactions with intensity definitely less than prior to ACTH. Thus, ACTH and cortisone when given in relatively large doses modified but did not abolish cutaneous tuberculin reactions in guinea pigs. The histopathologic changes consisted in a quantitative diminution in the inflammatory exudate, rather than a qualitative change in the cytologic structure.