Studies on Heart Anaphylaxis

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Abstract
The effect of antigen (ovalbumin) on the sensitised papillary muscle and of anaphylatoxin (AT) and compound 48/80 on the sensitised and non-sensitised papillary muscle of guinea-pigs was studied. Two AT preparations were used: crude rat serum AT and a highly purified crystallised AT formed from hog serum. Each agent increased the contractile force of the papillary muscle leaving a state of ‘desensitisation’ or ‘tachyphylaxis’ against the same agent but not against the two others. Cross-desensitisation was observed between the crude and the crystallised AT only. AT or ovalbumin did not change the sensitivity of the papillary muscle to histamine. Pre-treatment with antigen, AT (crude preparation) or compound 48/80 markedly reduced the number of undamaged mast cells and in most experiments also reduced the total number of mast cells in the papillary muscle. It is concluded from these data that all three agents act on the papillary muscle of guinea-pigs mainly by histamine-independent mechanisms which are subject to tachyphylaxis. AT, histamine and compound 48/80 had no stimulating effect on the papillary muscle of rats. Dextran and serotonin were weakly effective whereas adrenaline and noradrenaline were potent stimulants. The mast cell count of the papillary muscle of rats is very low.

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