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The Journal of Experimental Medicine logoLink to The Journal of Experimental Medicine
. 1956 Aug 1;104(2):217–231. doi: 10.1084/jem.104.2.217

THE LETHAL EFFECT OF ENDOTOXINS ON THE CHICK EMBRYO

Richard T Smith 1, Lewis Thomas 1; With the Technical Assistance of Donna G. Gellerman1
PMCID: PMC2136659  PMID: 13345967

Abstract

Inoculation of the CAM of the 10-day chick embryo with endotoxin preparations derived from the meningococcus and other Gram-negative microorganisms has been shown to result in multiple hemorrhages and death of the embryo within a few hours. Evidence has been presented to indicate that this lethal effect is specific for the general class of endotoxins derived from Gram-negative bacteria. Susceptibility to endotoxin was maximal in 10-day old embryos, and younger or older embryos showed little or no response. The optimal incubation temperature for the effect of endotoxin was 39.5°C., and embryos incubated at 28°C. were completely protected. The lethal effect was prevented by small amounts of cortisone, hydrocortisone, and 9-alpha fluorohydrocortisone, but not by cholesterol, desoxycorticosterone, or 1-dehydrocortisone.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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