Studies on the increased capillary permeability by the intracutaneous administration of peptidoglycan fraction extracted

Abstract

The increased capillary permeability in the skin of the guinea pig and the rat was investigated by using peptidoglycan (PG) fraction extracted from cell walls of group A Streptococci.
The following results were obtained:
1) The pattern of the reaction in the increased capillary permeability consists of two phases: the leakage of the dye which appeared immediately after the intracutaneous injection of PG fraction in the first phase, and vasculitis observed in the second phase.
2) From the microscopic examination in the first phase, edema was observed in the extravascular spaces of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues; in the second phase, degeneration of the vascular wall and a remarkable number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes in the extravascular spaces were observed.
3) From the electromicroscopic examination in the first phase, swelling and vacuolation of the endothelial cells and the appearance of mast cell-like cells in the extravascular space were observed; in the second phase, cytolysis and necrosis of endothelial cells were observed and the basement membrane was irregularly thick and disintergrated into many fragments.
4) By pretreatment of an anti-histamine or anti-serotonin drug, the inhibitory effect against the increased capillary permeability in the first phase was observed. The inhibitory effect against the leakage of dye in the second phase was observed not only by the pretreatment of steroidhormcme but also by the anti-histamine or anti-serotonin drug.
These results suggest that increased activity of capillary permeability by PG fraction may play an important role in inducing an initial change of tissue injury by streptococcal cell walls.