The influence of cortisone on tuberculin shock in the guinea pig.

There have been several reports indicating that cortisone suppresses or “blocks” the tuberculin skin reaction in man and experimental animals.1-3 Also it has been shown that ACTH or cortisone inhibits the development of the Arthus phenomenon due to a suppression of antibody formation.4 Recently it has been demonstrated that ACTH or cortisone did not prevent histamine effects on sensitized guinea pigs nor did these compounds decrease the mortality from anaphylactic shock in sensitized guinea pigs.5’6 This differs from a report that cortisone prevented fatal anaphylactic shock in mice sensitized with horse serum.7 Reinmuth and Smith8 have demonstrated that ACTH administered to rabbits sensitized to M. tuberculosis and then injected intratracheally with Old Tuberculin had less extensive reactions than untreated controls. When ACTH was withdrawn, a fresh pneumonic consolidation occurred which was less severe than the reactions seen in the controls. It was thought to be of interest to learn whether or not cortisone modified in any way the classical type of tuberculin shock in tuberculous animals. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four male albino guinea pigs with an average weight of 350 g. were Injected intradermally with 0.1 ml. 10 per cent Old Tuberculin and were found to be tuberculin negative. These animals were then inoculated subcutaneously in the groin with 0.1 mg. virulent human tubercle bacilli (H37 Rv) from a young liquid culture (Proskauer and Beck medium). Twenty-five days after infection these guinea pigs were again tuberculin-tested in the manner described above. All animals were found to react to intradermal injections of Old Tuberculin. On the 27th day after infection, the animals were divided into two groups. Twelve received a daily intramuscular injection of 10 mg.