CHARACTERIZATION OF BODY WEIGHT-DECREASING TOXICITIES IN MICE BY LYMPHOCYTOSIS-PROMOTING FACTOR AND HEAT-LABILE TOXIN OF B PERTUSSIS AND ENDOTOXIN

By the use of partially purified preparations of three toxic substances, the lymphocytosis-promoting factor (LPF) and the heat-labile toxin of Bordetella pertussis and the endotoxin of Escherichia coli, their characteristics in body weight-decreasing toxicity and lethal toxicity in mice following the intraperitoneal inoculation were analysed. Characteristics were noted in the pattern of daily body weight change in mice as well as in the regression of the body weight change on log dose of the preparation. Moreover, distinctive interactions were demonstrated when two or three of the above substances co-existed. These interactions make it difficult to determine quantitatively each substance in a mixture. Distribution of death time of mice following the intraperitoneal inoculation of LPF preparations was distinguishable from that of heat-labile toxin or endotoxin preparations. A distinctive interaction in lethal toxicity was also observed. Possible methods for qualitative as well as quantitative determinations of each substance were discussed. © 1968, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Editorial Committee. All rights reserved.