STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF TRITON (WR-1339) ON GUINEA PIG TISSUES : III. TUBERCULIN HYPERSENSITIVITY AND IN VITRO CYTOLYSIS OF LEUCOCYTES BY TUBERCULIN

The administration of triton WR-1339 (300 mg./kg. subcutaneously) to tuberculin-sensitive guinea pigs 2 hours before the intradermal injection of PPD depresses slightly their skin sensitivity to tuberculin and essentially obliterates the lytic effect of tuberculin on their circulating leucocytes. When leucocytes from tuberculin-sensitive guinea pigs are exposed to triton in vitro at a concentration level attainable in vivo the cells are partially protected against lysis by PPD.