Sensitization by Insulin to the Dextran "Anaphylactoid" Reaction

Abstract

A single subcutaneous injection of crystalline insulin (20 units) sensitizes considerably the rats to the dextran "anaphylactoid" reaction. This is a type of acute serous inflammation. Insulin precipitates the reaction after a very small dose of dextran (0.05–0.01 ml., 6% solution) has been injected into a "shock organ". Without insulin, such small doses of dextran are quite ineffective. Insulin also precipitates the reaction when dextran (1.0 ml., 6% solution) is injected peripherally on the back. In this site and at this dose, it rarely produces the reaction in normal rats. The sensitization manifests itself despite a cortisone pretreatment.

Sensitization by Insulin of the Anaphylactoid Inflammation in Rats

“…Consequent ly, with respect to insulin sensitivity, there are two inhibition types of the anaphylactoid reaction: (1) insensitive, and (2) susceptible to insulin. The first type is represented by the inhibition observed 24 h after the adminis tration of some nucleic acid and protein synthesis inhibitors [17], while diabetes [12], cortisone treatment [1], and nephrectomy [16] belong to the insulin-sensitive group.…”

“…As far as its characteristic symptoms, chemical me- 1 The generous gift of insulin afforded by the Novo Industri A/S, Copenhagen, is gratefully acknowledged. diators, and pharmacologic reactivity are concerned, the phenomenon re sembles the early vascular phase of the acute allergic inflammation.…”

“…It is well known that insulin renders the rat more sensitive to dextran [1,15]. Hypoglycemia has been accounted for the sensitization.…”

Rats Resistant to the Dextran Anaphylactoid Reaction

“…For example, insulin, which potentiates the response to dextran in intact rats (Adamkiewicz & Langlois, 1957) and in spinal rats (Adamkiewicz, Langlois & Poirier, 1958), did not change the resistance of non-reactors to dextran. Similarly the oral hypoglycaemic drug, chlorpropamide, was ineffective in non-reactors but like tolbutamide it potentiated the response to dextran in reactors, probably by releasing insulin (Jasmin & Bois, 1959;Adamkiewicz, Fitko & Fortier, 1960).…”

“…Many years later, a similar reaction was shown to be produced by dextran, a carbohydrate polymer (Voorhees, Baker & Pulaski, 1951;. Both reactions are enhanced by treatment with thyroxine and by adrenalectomy (Leger & Masson, 1948;Parratt, 1957;Parratt & West, 1960;Spencer & West, 1962); treatment with insulin also enhances the dextran reaction (Adamkiewicz & Langlois, 1957) whereas alloxan-diabetic rats fail to respond (Edlund, Lofgren & Vali, 1952 ;Goth, Nash, Nagler & Holman, 1957 ; Adamkiewicz & Adamkiewicz, 1959).…”