Biomaterial Database

Ampicillin polymers as elicitors of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. 1976

S Ahlstedt, and A Kristoffersson, and P O Svärd, and L Thor, and B Ortengren

The ability of ampicillin polymers to elicit passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reactions in guinea pigs was analyzed. Mediating antibodies were raised in rabbits against a crude preparation of 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA). It was found that large ampicillin polymers were potent elicitors, 1,000-fold better than benzylpenicillin polymers. Small polymers in high concentrations did not elicit PCA reactions but inhibited the activity of the larger polymers. This inhibition was more pronounced that that of ampicillin monomer. High molecular weight of ampicillin polymer in the amount of 0.1% in an ampicillin solution manifested its PCA activity. The tendency of ampicillin to polymerize, particularly when kept in solution, makes this observation worth considering. The PCA reactions described were penicilloyl-specific as verified by immunosorbent experiments.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010323	Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis	An evanescent cutaneous reaction occurring when antibody is injected into a local area on the skin and antigen is subsequently injected intravenously along with a dye. The dye makes the rapidly occurring capillary dilatation and increased vascular permeability readily visible by leakage into the reaction site. PCA is a sensitive reaction for detecting very small quantities of antibodies and is also a method for studying the mechanisms of immediate hypersensitivity.	Anaphylaxis, Passive Cutaneous,PCA,Cutaneous Anaphylaxis, Passive
D011108	Polymers	Compounds formed by the joining of smaller, usually repeating, units linked by covalent bonds. These compounds often form large macromolecules (e.g., BIOPOLYMERS; PLASTICS).	Polymer
D006168	Guinea Pigs	A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.	Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D000667	Ampicillin	Semi-synthetic derivative of penicillin that functions as an orally active broad-spectrum antibiotic.	Penicillin, Aminobenzyl,Amcill,Aminobenzylpenicillin,Ampicillin Sodium,Ampicillin Trihydrate,Antibiotic KS-R1,Omnipen,Pentrexyl,Polycillin,Ukapen,Aminobenzyl Penicillin,Antibiotic KS R1,KS-R1, Antibiotic,Sodium, Ampicillin,Trihydrate, Ampicillin
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000918	Antibody Specificity	The property of antibodies which enables them to react with some ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS and not with others. Specificity is dependent on chemical composition, physical forces, and molecular structure at the binding site.	Antibody Specificities,Specificities, Antibody,Specificity, Antibody