Effect of vagotomy on anaphylaxis in the rat.

Vagatomy or atropinization protects rats from lethal anaphylaxis and histamine shock. These procedures do not significantly affect production of anaphylactic antibodies or release of histamine following induction of anaphylaxis. The response of the intestinal microvasculature during anaphylaxis is observed to consist of an early brief increase permeability followed by prolonged and irreversible damage. Cholinergic blockade abolishes the latter and markedly reduces deposition of colloidal carbon and immune complexes in the vessel. The possible relevance of these observations to development of chronic immunological vascular disease is discussed.