ALTERED REACTIVITY TO EPINEPHRINE IN THE HYPERSENSITIVE RABBIT

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Abstract
When epinephrine is injected into the skin of sensitized rabbits, following a challenge intravenous dose of specific antigen (horse serum), a reproducible lesion occurs at the site of injection. The lesion is characterized by cellular exudation, hemorrhage, and necrotizing arteritis. It is qualitatively similar to the Arthus reaction. Its size and intensity are in direct proportion to the degree of sensitivity, as measured by the Arthus reaction, and to the amount (within limits) of the epinephrine injected locally. The size of the challenge dose of antigen is of less importance. Heparinization ameliorates or prevents the reaction, but intramuscular chlorpromazine does not. Norepinephrine produces a similar lesion. No reaction occurs to ephedrine injected under similar conditions. Either epinephrine or norepinephrine injected locally with specific antigen alters the Arthus reaction thus produced in a manner that it resembles the epinephrine lesion. This reaction offers a means of producing lesions at predetermined foci which embody some characteristics of lesions occurring in the so-called collagen diseases.