INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE TO ANAPHYLAXIS AND INTRAVENOUS ANTIBODY OR ANTIGEN

The inflammatory process, as initiated by active or passive anaphylaxis or by the intravenous injection of antibody or antigen alone, was studied in the rabbit. Emphasis was placed on timing the events in inflammation. The inflammatory response was studied at three levels of experimentation: microscopic observation of the microvasculature and supporting tissue in the ear chamber, monitoring of the intravascular cellular elements during the reaction, and gross and microscopical study of ear chamber and visceral tissues secured just before death or sacrifice of the rabbit. The first cell affected appeared to be the leukocyte. This was supported by observations in the ear chamber, white blood cells adhering to endotheliallining cells of the microvessels, and a drop in the leukocyte count. Then the platelet count dropped quickly, and within 10 min emboli and thrombi were observed in the microvessels of the ear chamber. Later events in the inflammatory sequence included the swelling of endothelial cells, migration of leukocytes, and appearance of microhemorrhages in the ear chamber. Pathology was more marked in passive and active anaphylaxis than when either antibody or antigen alone was injected intravenously. Histological examination of tissue from various visceral organs and the ear chamber secured just before the death or sacrifice of the rabbit, showed inflammatory changes consistent with those noted in the ear chamber during all phases of the response. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.