파상풍병인에 있어서의 파상풍용혈소의 역할

Abstract

The main clinical signs of tetanus reman within the" limit of neurological manifestations such as difficulties in swallowing, trismus and/or opisthotonus, probably being. induced by tetanospasmin which seems to be released from· the organisms grown in tissue. Regarding the toxigenicity of Cl. tetani, the tetanolysin is also known as one' of the toxic substances, detectable in vitro during the' growth of the organisms. It hemolyses erythrocytes of human and various animals, necrotizes the tissues and; also produces cardiotoxic effects to rabbits and guinea. pigs. It may be assumed that the tetanolysin might take a' part as a pathogenetic factor, in association with tetanospasmin during the course of tatanus. No significant work on tetanolysin, however, has been reported in rela-: tion to pathogenesis of tetanus. The author designed an experiment to observe the' conditions in vitro as to the hemolytic activities of thee culture fluid of CI. tetani which may be regarded as' a mixture of tetanolysin, tetanospasmin and so on. According to the observations, the optimal conditions for the hemolytic activities of the culture fluid likely tobe induced by tetanolysin were found as follows. a) The optimal pH was 8. 3. b) The oxidation of the hemolytic agents in culture' fluid reduced its activity instantly. c) The cholesterol and the like inhibited the hemolytic: activity. d) The hemolytic activity of the culture fluid wasneutralized by antistreptolysin 0, and vice versa Considering the result obtained, the hemolytic activity' of the culture fluid of CI. tetani are limited by the' conditions which may not possibly be provided by theliving environment of tissues; thus, an assumption that the hemolytic activities of the metabolic products from. CI. tetani including tetanolysin may play a role in the; courese of the disease can hardly be made.