Comparison of the Anaphylactoid Response Induced in Rats by Castanospermine and Dextran

Abstract

The plant alkaloid castanospermine (10 mg/kg or higher, i.p.; 400 mg/kg, p.o.) induced in some rat strains an anaphylactoid reaction similar to that induced by dextran, i.e. erythema and edema of the snout, ears and paws, for several hours after administration. 86% of the rats from a responsive strain responded to castanospermine while 79% responded to dextran. Rats which responded to castanospermine showed marked, but transient, tachyphylaxis to a second dose of castanospermine or dextran. Rats maintained on a complex-carbohydrate-free diet also responded to castanospermine, excluding the possibility that the effect was due to absorption of dextran-like, dietary, complex carbohydrates. These data raise the possibility that some apparent food allergies in man could be due to the presence in the diet of plant alkaloids with properties similar to those of castanospermine.

Effects of red blood cell hyperaggregation on the rat microcirculation blood flow

“…In order to increase RBC aggregation, we injected dextran 500. Doherty & Beaver (1990) found that dextran does not induce an anaphylactoid response in WISTAR rats.…”

A Model System to Quantitate Tumor Burden in Locoregional Lymph Nodes during Cancer Spread

“…Invasion Metastasis 1998/99;18:192-197 193 tropic drug carriers are dextran based [4], and their testing in rodent models can overestimate the efficacy because most rodents have a dextran hypersensitivity leading to abnormal extravasation and subsequent accumulation in lymph nodes [7]. Although ideal model systems would employ human tumor xenografts, this requires the use of immunocompromised nude or SCID mice with altered lymph node function and architecture.…”