17-ketosteroids and Salmonella-Infections--Animal

We do not know whether complexes of chemical agents produce an accumulation of their respective noxious effects or whether these effects weaken each other and we have no exact methods to quantify these effects. Knowledge of such methods would be important for investigation of environmental health. In the course of researches how to influence infectious diseases by altering natural resistance we have found that it might be possible to use an indicator method: Animals exposed to such a light environmental toxic influence that they seem to be in a good health have a reduced period of survival time and an altered steroid metabolism after infection. The time of survival (after infection) and the steroid metabolism are the indicators of some hidden trouble caused by environmental influence. Here are three examples: 1) The covered intoxication with exhaust fumes, 2) the covered intoxication with lead salt and 3) the covered intoxication with DDT demonstrate the applicability of this method, results being available within a period of 2--3 weeks.

Topics: 17-Ketosteroids; Animals; DDT; Environmental Pollutants; Guinea Pigs; Hydrocortisone; Lead Poisoning; Salmonella Infections, Animal; Salmonella typhimurium; Testosterone; Vehicle Emissions

It is demonstrated that it is possible to change the stereotyped reaction of the steroid metabolism to infection by means of external influences. The progress of infectious diseases can be detoriated and the average duration of life can be shortened by rearing a special strain of test rabbits or by lack of protein in the diet, by blocking the RES, by cortisol, estradiol and thyroxin, by glucose and by polyvinylpyridin-N-oxid. - The time of survival is prolonged by testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and cyproterone, also by cystein, aristolochia acid and treatment with pyrifer. - No effect whatever on the progress of an infectious disease is produced by the vitamines A, B1, B6, D, E and especially ascorbinic acid, also an extract of thymus gland, spleen, insulin, a preparation with STH, and Norgestrel, DMSO and treatment with B, bifidum and with omnadin.

Topics: 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids; 17-Ketosteroids; Animals; Female; Guinea Pigs; Male; Mice; Mononuclear Phagocyte System; Rabbits; Rats; Salmonella Infections, Animal; Salmonella typhimurium; Species Specificity; Starvation; Steroids

Topics: 17-Ketosteroids; Leukocyte Count; Pyrogens; Salmonella Infections; Salmonella Infections, Animal