The effect of some adrenal steroids upon immunological responses to diphtheria toxoid.
Date
1953
DOI
Authors
Sweet, Benjamin Hersh
Version
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to study the action of the two adrenal steroids desoxycorticosterone (DCA) and 11-dehydro-17-hydroxycorticosterone (cortisone) upon certain immunological responses to diphtheria toxoid in the rabbit. The responses studied were: (1) the effect of the hormones on circulating antibody when administered early and late in immunization; (2) the effect of these agents on the booster response to diphtheria toxoid; (3) a study of the relationship of skin-sensitivity, of the delayed tuberculin type, to antibody titer and the effects of these hormones on such relationships.
A survey of the literature reveals a great many contradictory reports concerning the role of the adrenal cortex or its products on the maintenance of antibody levels and upon skin-sensitivity. Various investigators, utilizing different species of animals, different hormonal preparations, and different dosages, have reported increases, decreases, or no effects on circulating antibody levels and skin-sensitivity. Moreover, with few exceptions, the majority of workers has utilized semi-quantitative techniques, which usually have an inherent error of 100 per cent.
In the present work the diphtheria toxin-antitoxin system was used. This system is excellent for the study of antibody and was chosen because: (1) the antigen, diphtheria toxoid, could be obtained in a high state of purity (95 per cent); (2) it induces an antibody response which can be measured in concentrations as low as 0.01 micrograms of antibody nitrogen by the rabbit intracutaneous test; and, (3) because it will, when incorporated into an adjuvant, intensify the antibody response, particularly in regard to skin sensitivity. [TRUNCATED]
Description
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University
License
Based on investigation of the BU Libraries' staff, this work is free of known copyright restrictions.