Hapten-specific respiratory hypersensitivity in guinea pigs.

Respiratory hypersensitivity to small chemical determinants (haptens) was produced in guinea pigs by repeatedly exposing the animals to aerosols of hapten-ovalbumin conjugates. In this way, reactivity toward p-azobenzenearsonate and p-tolyl isocyanate was induced. Carrier (ovalbumin)-specific respiratory reactions were not produced. Hapten-specific respiratory hypersensitivity was accompanied by the production of hapten-specific antibodies. The method for inducing hapten-specific hypersensitivity can be applied to screen various industrial chemicals for their sensitizing abilities toward the respiratory tract.