Delayed hypersensitivity. IV. Systemic reactivity of guinea pigs sensitized to protein antigens.

Guinea pigs with delayed hypersensitivity to protein antigens show a specific febrile response accompanied by a lymphopenia following injection of a desensitizing dose of specific antigen. No signs of shock are observed in highly sensitive animals following this injection. The response is not prevented in sensitive guinea pigs by inducing endotoxin tolerance or by pretreating with cortisone before specific challenge. Using a suitable antigen in sufficiently sensitive animals as little as 100 microg. can elicit a pronounced febrile response. Injection of a desensitizing dose of antigen specifically abolishes systemic as well as skin reactivity for several days. Normal or hypersensitive (delayed-type) animals passively sensitized with sufficient amounts of serum antibody show hypothermia after specific challenge and may show a delayed type of fatal shock. Differences were noted between their systemic reactivities, however, and the reactivity seen in specifically challenged tuberculous animals.