ON PERSISTENCE OF TUBERCULIN HYPERSENSITIVITY IN GUINEA PIGS MADE SENSITIVE PASSIVELY

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Normal guinea pigs were passively sensitized to tuberculin by transfer of peritoneal exudate and splenic cells from actively sensitized donors. At intervals, paracentesis was performed on the recipients, and the mononuclear cells were examined for sensitivity to PPD in tissue culture. Skin tests were performed at various times. Prolonged sensitivity can be demonstrated without bringing the recipient into contact with the antigen by skin testing. The possibility of active sensitization by antigen transfer to the recipient via donor cells appears to be unlikely, but cannot be excluded entirely. Hypersensitivity seems to be transferred to the recipient''s mononuclear cells, so that they themselves become reactive to PPD in tissue culture. The duration of passively transferred hypersensitivity may exceed several months.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: