Abstract
The involvement of the complement system and platelets in the sublethal Forssman reaction in the guinea pig has been studied together with the ultrastructural changes observed in the endothelial cells of the pulmonary vasculature. The main ultrastructural change noted was swelling of the endothelium. This did not occur in thrombocytopenic animals or in decomplemented animals, indicating the importance of both platelets and the complement pathways in this reaction. The platelet inhibitors sulphinpyrazone or aspirin had no effect on endothelial swelling in the sublethal reaction. In the lethal reaction the degree of endothelial cell damage was more severe and included lesions in the cell membrane, lifting, necrosis and finally exposure of the basement membrane. This damage only occurred in animals with an intact complement cascade.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Butler K. D., Smith J. R. Mechanisms of Forssman-induced bronchospasm and their inhibition. Br J Pharmacol. 1981 May;73(1):25–32. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1981.tb16767.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Butler K. D., White A. M. Inhibition of thrombocytopenic episodes caused by the Arthus reaction, the sub-lethal Forssman reaction and ADP. Artery. 1980;8(5):457–469. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LEDUC E. H., TANAKA N. A study of the cellular distribution of Forssman antigen in various species. J Immunol. 1956 Sep;77(3):198–212. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- May J. E., Frank M. M. Complement-mediated tissue damage: contribution of the classical and alternate complement pathways in the Forssman reaction. J Immunol. 1972 Jun;108(6):1517–1525. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Okita G. T., Richardson F., Roth-Schechter B. F. Dissociation of the positive inotropic action of digitalis from inhibition of sodium- and potassium-activated adenosine triphosphate. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1973 Apr;185(1):1–11. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Taichman N. S., Creighton M., Stephenson A., Tsai C. C. Heterophile antibodies and tissue injury. 1. Ultrastructure of pulmonary vascular lesions produced by Forssman antiserum in guinea-pigs. Immunology. 1972 Jan;22(1):93–102. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]