Origin of thirst in diabetes insipidus††Gregersen, M. I. and Holmes, J. H. Preliminary report. Kongressbericht III des XVI. Internationalein Physiologen-kongresses. Zurich, 1938.

Discussion. The present investigation hasrevealed that partially and highly purified preparations of staphylococcal en terotoxin alter the dermal reactivity of rabbits and guinea pigs to epinephrine. The question arises whether the epinephrine effect is due to enterotoxin itself or to some other component present in the purified preparations. If the epinephrine effect were due to a hitherto unrecognized component of purified enterotoxin, it would have to be present in all preparations examined thus far, and, to account for the high activity, in high concentration. On the other hand, if the epinephrine effect is in fact due to enterotoxin, a new basis will be provided for biological assay of this elusive toxin, and inferences may be drawn regarding its mode of action.The altered reactivity to epinephrine induced by the enterotoxin preparations in rabbits resembles that produced by staphylococcal extracts, by viable or killed staphylococci, and by endotoxins from gram-negative bacteria. Although similarities are evident in the biological activities of enterotoxin and endotoxin, differences are also apparent. Thus it would appear that although enterotoxin is active as a preparatory dose in the Shwartzman reaction, it differs from endotoxin in being inactive as a provoking dose. The available chemical and physical data also reveal no similarities between classical endotoxin and the staphylococcal enterotoxin, and accordingly it is suggested that the latter product should not be referred to as-endotoxin.Summary. Intravenous injection of 6 preparations of the S-6 type of staphylococcal enterotoxin in rabbits resulted in the appearance of dermal lesions at the site of subsequent intradermal injections of epinephrine. Intradermal injection of staphylococcal enterotoxin followed by administration of epinephrine into the same sites also resulted in the appearance of dermal lesions in both rabbits and guinea pigs. Enterotoxin was effective in amounts as small as O.OQO1 pg. The toxic factor was not destroyed by heating for 15 min a t 60°C or 100°C. Antiserum failed to neutralize the toxic effect.

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“…active in the body fluids produce roughly comparable drinking responses when injected in hypertonic solutions ( 6). = not tested.…”

Section: Discussion the Present Investigation Hasmentioning

confidence: 99%