Quantitative studies of protein and water shifts during inflammation

¹ Department of Pathology, New York University Medical Center, New York City

A study was made of the dose-response relationship after injury induced by histamine, an antigen-antibody reaction, and serotonin. The intensity of the inflammatory reaction, as measured by the local clearance of albumin-I¹³¹, was found within a certain range to be related to the logarithm of the dose. The relative movements of water and protein were studied by comparing the water increment calculated on the basis of radioactive protein accumulation with the actual increment in the water content of the tissue. At threshold doses of histamine and at the beginning of xylene inflammation, the skin gains more water than protein. Subsequent to this stage and at higher histamine doses, protein is transiently retained by the inflamed skin. After these changes, the ratio of the increments of tissue water and protein approaches that of plasma. Possible mechanisms responsible for these phenomena are examined.