The Cutaneous Reactivity of Guinea Pigs to Pure Protein Antigens

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Abstract
The reactions to intradermal injections of antigen following the sensitization of guinea-pigs with pure proteins were observed and compared with the classical tuberculin reaction. Native, heat-denatured and picrylated albumins and albumins com-plexed with excess antibody were injected into the foot pads, either in incomplete adjuvant or in complete adjuvant (containing Mycobacteria). The animals were skin tested 7 and 14 days afterwards and in some cases later. Those injected with antigen in Freund''s complete adjuvant developed hypersensitivity resembling tuberculin hypersensitivity in that the skin reactions were maximal 24 to 30 hours after testing and persisted for 48 to 72 hours. The reactions 7 days after sensitization were weak but were usually unaccompanied by an early (Arthus) component. The reactions 14 days after sensitization were stronger but there was usually an Arthus component. The delayed component was not greatly inhibited by repeated skin tests. In contrast, animals sensitized with antigens in Freund''s incomplete adjuvant did not respond in skin tests with tuberculin-type reactions. When tested 7 days after sensitization, some animals had skin reactions which were delayed in onset but transient and weak. The skin reactions of these animals 14 days after sensitization were of pure Arthus type, with no detectable delayed component. The differences between these findings and those of other workers are discussed.