Development of Tetanus in Parabiotic Rats

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Abstract
Summary and Conclusions: Tetanus toxin inoculation of parabiotic rats produces symptoms in the injected parabiont comparable to those seen in single animals: ascending and general tetanus following intramuscular injection, and blood-borne tetanus following intravenous inoculation. In the latter case, the uninjected parabiont also develops blood-borne tetanus. When intramuscularly inoculated pairs without nerve crosses are left united the uninjected parabiont does not develop typical tetanus, but dies in a condition of respiratory distress designated “aspastic respiratory tetanus”. It is suggested that some lethal agent other than unaltered toxin produces this condition and the death of the animal. Following intramuscular inoculation of pairs with nerve crosses the uninjected parabiont develops local tetanus which may advance to ascending and general tetanus and death. Thus we may conclude that tetanus toxin can travel directly from the site of intramuscular injection to the spinal cord of the uninjected parabiont by way of a crossing nerve trunk. Following intramuscular inoculation of pairs without nerve crosses the uninjected parabiont does not develop blood-borne tetanus unless it is separated from its injected partner, even though it apparently receives and fixes a lethal dose of toxin. The possible significance of this is discussed.

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