Insulin, a protein of about 5,700 molecular weight, was delivered by aerosol inhalation to three normal volunteers and to four patients with diabetes mellitus. Direct evidence of absorption of insulin across mucosae of the respiratory tract was an increase in plasma IRI. Biologic activity of insulin absorbed by inhalation was shown by hypoglycemia temporally correlated with the increase in plasma IRI. No untoward reactions were observed.

No abstract

Soluble tetanus toxoid given as an aerosol to human volunteers led to an increase in serum antibody titers comparable to that resulting from conventional subcutaneous administration, thus suggesting that tetanus toxoid booster immunization can be administered by aerosol in man. The results also show that an antigen given by fine particle aerosol can stimulate the production of high levels of serum antibody. No increase in the titer of nasal antibody was demonstrated. Sputum antibody titers, however, were found to increase significantly in the persons who received aerosolized vaccine, which demonstrates that secretory antibody was produced in response to an antigen that normally does not enter the respiratory tract.