IMMUNOLOGICAL UNRESPONSIVENESS TO SENSITIZATION WITH SIMPLE CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS

Abstract

Guinea pigs fed picryl chloride to induce specific immunologic unresponsiveness cleared small amounts of venously infused antipicryl antibody at a rate equal to that of normal guinea pigs. Catabolism of passively administered picryl-specific antibody did not alter the unresponsive state of picryl chloride-fed guinea pigs or the responsive state of normal guinea pigs. Lymphoid cells of picryl chloride immunized guinea pigs produced equal amounts of picryl-specific antibody in picryl chloride-fed and normal animals. Allergen-fed guinea pigs remained unresponsive to attempted sensitization with the allergen in excess of 10 months after the final feeding, though some became feebly sensitive between 9 and 11 months. Second attempts to make unresponsive animals hypersensitive were unsuccessful. White blood cells of guinea pigs unresponsive to picryl chloride were unable to transfer delayed-type hypersensitivity for picryl chloride to normal recipients yet readily transferred tuberculin hypersensitivity.