It has been widely accepted that nucleic acids play an important role in the immunological mechanisms. Therefore, nucleic acids in the palatine tonsils were measured in order to explain the immunological characteristics of the palatine tonsils.
Schmidt & Thannhauser's procedure for determination of tonsilar nucleic acids was undertaken. Following this procedure, chemical quantative estimation of their DNA-P and RNA-P with Fiske and Subbarow's method was carried out. The palatine tonsils were stamped for staining with Feulgen stain for DNA and Azur B stain for RNA. The amount of nucleic acids in cells were measured with use of micro-spectrophotometer.
High values of nucleic acids in the palatine tonsils were found in chronic tonsillitis, especially in a group of focal chronic tonsillitis, while a group of hypertrophy contained the lowest value of nucleic acids. In a group of age under 10 years, values of nucleic acids in chronic tonsillitis were higher than those in tonsil hypertrophy.
It is supposed that tonsillar nucleic acids which increased in amount because of chronic inflammation, especially focal infection, produce antibodies against antigen.
In relationschip with the age of patients, nucleic acids in chronic tonsillitis showed the highest amount in a group of age 20-29 of which tonsils seemed to acquire immunity capability by repeated inflammation, and second highest in a group of age 10-19, next 4-9. Tonsillar nucleic acids had the lowest value in a group of age over 30, suggesting the presence of regressive tonsillar atrophy in this group.
Regarding the bacterial groups in the tonsils, slightly high values of nucleic acids were also found in tonsils with haemolytic streptococcus or staphylococcus aureus. This might mean occurrence of tonsillar immunity reaction against pathogenic bacteria.
Nucleic acids in tissue cells with chronic inflammation showed high amount in plasma cells, reticulum cells and lymphocytes that are said to produce antibodies. Nucleic acids in chronic tonsillitis decreased in amount by tonsillar lacuna-syringe, but increased after indirect irradiation of tonsil with ultrashort wave. These quantitative change of tonsillar nucleic acids according to exclusion or absorption of antigenic substances suggests that tonsils have antibody producing capacity.
In the patients who were given adreno-cortical hormon (glucocorticoid), the values of nucleic acids in focal chronic tonsillitis was lower than that seen in a control groups. It is concluded that in the immunological mechanisms nucleic acids in the palatine tonsils play an important role and may be influenced by adreno-cortical function.
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