Reduced symptoms of anaphylaxis in chickens by ACTH or heat

Exogenous ACTH, when administered intramuscularly in four equal doses of 2 I.U./100 gm. of body weight at 24, 23, 22, and 21 hours prior to challenge with BSA, reduced the severity of anaphylaxis in BSA sensitized juvenile chickens. Additionally, a single heat exposure (45 degrees C.) of 30 minutes at 24 hours prior to challenge consistently reduced the severity of anaphylaxis. Single heating exposures at 24 hours prior to sensitization or at 48 hours prior to challenge did not influence the anaphylactic response. In one of two experiments single heat exposures at one hour prior to challenge reduced the severity of anaphylaxis. The levels of anti-BSA antibody which existed immediately prior to challenge were not affected by the heat treatments. These data demonstrate clearly that exogenous ACTH and a single, non-lethal heating episode, when applied 24 hours prior to the induction of anaphylaxis, reduced the severity of the symptoms associated with this particular hypersensitive reaction in the domestic chicken.