抄録
Most of the side reactions after the inoculation of tetanus toxoid are apparently due to allergic reaction, since they are always observed after repeated inoculations. The allergenic substances may be originated either from the culture medium or bacterial cells. In this paper, therefore, the allergenicities of peptone and heart infusion included in the medium for tetanus toxin production were studied. The allergenicity was examined by the appearance of the allergic reaction of immediate type caused by the intracutaneous injection of the substance in question in guinea pigs previously sensitized with the substances.
It was proved that heart infusions were more potent in the allergenicity than peptones. The minimum amounts of the former and the latter appearing the visible reaction were 0.7∼1.3mcg and 4∼20mcg respectively. On the other hand, heart infusion was essential for the consistent production of a potent tetanus toxin. No significant differences were observed between infusions derived from whale and beef heart in the allergenicity as well as the ability to promote the toxin production.
It was then examined to see whether the allergenicity and the ability to promote the toxin production were resulted from the same substances in the infusion. Heart infusion was fractionated by gel filtration through Sephadex G-75 and several fractions were tested for the effect on the toxin production. It was shown that the toxin production was promoted by the substances of small molecular weight in the infusion. The allergenicity was presumably due to the substances of large molecular weight. Details on the latter will be reported in the future paper.
