Pyrogenic and emetic effects of staphylococcal enterotoxin

Endotoxins are high molecular weight lipopolysaccharides, derived primarily from gram-negative bacteria. They produce a wide variety of effects in animals and man including fever, alterations of blood leukocyte counts and glucose levels, the Shwartzman reaction, tumor necrotizing effects and cardiovascular effects. Endotoxins are responsible for various so-called " injection fevers" which have been of interest since the late 1800's and which are caused by contamination of solutions by gram-negative bacteria. The possibility of such contamination must be taken into account in any study of pyrogenic effect supposedly induced by another agent. Recent reviews discussing various physiological effects of endotoxin include those by Bennett and Cluff (1957), Gilbert (1960) and Atkins (1960). The present survey will consider only those aspects of the pyrogenic effect and changed in leukocyte counts which are important for a comparison with enterotoxin and for an understanding of some of the pyrogenic agents.