SKIN REACTIONS PRODUCED IN RABBITS BY CELL WALLS AND PROTOPLASM OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS AND M BUTYRICUM

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Abstract
Approximately 1 gamma of cell walls of Mycobacterium butyricum and M. tuberculosis injected intradermally into normal rabbits produces a lesion. Rabbits injected intradermally with 2.5 gamma of M. butyricum or 10 gamma of M. tuberculosis cell walls develop hypersensitivity to cell walls, protoplasm and, in the case of tubercle bacilli, to OT and PPD as well. Delayed reactions elicited by protoplasm are similar to those given by OT and PPD. Reactions induced by cell walls and killed whole cells are far more intense and persistent. Protoplasm fails to produce lesions when injected intradermally into normal rabbits or to sensitize rabbits to subsequent injections of cell walls or protoplasm. The substances in cell walls responsible for the production of local reactions are resistant to exposure to ether, formalin, and phenol, and to heating at 75[degree] C for forty-five minutes. Guinea pigs injected intradermally with cell walls of M. tuberculosis become allergic to subsequent injection of such material. Rabbits sensitized with cell walls of M. tuberculosis develop delayed reactions to similar amounts of cell walls of M. tuberculosis and M. butyricum. Rabbits sensitized with cell walls of M. tuberculosis or M. butyricum react in a specific manner when delayed reactions are elicited with heterologous or homologous protoplasm.