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PROLONGATION OF SURVIVAL PERIOD OF DIPHTHERIA TOXIN‐INJECTED RABBITS BY CHOLESTEROL ADMINISTRATION
Author(s) -
Meng Hsienchang,
Tsai Chiao
Publication year - 1942
Publication title -
quarterly journal of experimental physiology and cognate medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0033-5541
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.1942.sp000860
Subject(s) - cholesterol , lecithin , diphtheria toxin , sodium , toxin , diphtheria , endocrinology , chemistry , medicine , biochemistry , immunology , organic chemistry , vaccination
1. Several groups of rabbits were given cholesterol, lecithin, cholesterol + lecithin, sodium chloride or sodium chloride + cholesterol respectively, before and after the injection of a M. L. D. of diphtheria toxin. The symptoms and survival period of these animals were recorded. 2. Cholesterol definitely improves the conditions and prolongs the life of the toxin‐injected animals. In 38 rabbits given cholesterol or cholesterol + sodium chloride, 10·5 per cent. lived indefinitely, 84·2 per cent. survived 5‐25 days, with an average of about 9 days, and 5·2 per cent. died within the period of 66‐68 hours, while control animals with diphtheria‐toxin injection alone all died within 44‐92 hours. 3. Sodium chloride and lecithin respectively cannot prolong the life of the toxin‐injected rabbits any longer than that of the control group. Lecithin appears to abolish the beneficial effect of cholesterol. 4. The suprarenal glands of the diphtheria toxin‐injected rabbits are enlarged, but the total cholesterol concentration is reduced. This reduction is probably due to the increment of the tissue mass without a corresponding addition of cholesterol.