Anaphylactoid reactions in rats and the blood sugar level

When the blood sugar level in rats is reduced by insulin, the carrageenan-anaphylactoid reaction in one hindpaw is inhibited although the dextran-anaphylactoid reaction in the other hindpaw of the same animals is potentiated. When the blood sugar level is raised after alloxan pretreatment, the carrageenan reaction is potentiated whereas the dextran reaction is inhibited. The results support the hypothesis that the two local irritants exert their effects by involving different mechanisms.