[Changes in the lymph nodes of adrenalectomized rats with staphylococcal poisoning]

Histological changes in lymph nodes and dynamics of 11-oxycorticosteroid levels in blood were studied in intact and adrenalectomized rats under staphylococcal intoxication. At early stages (up to 24 h) after staphylotoxin or staphylococcal injection, stress reaction of the organism, which produces a rise of corticosteroid level in blood, was demonstrated to play the major role in aplasy of the lymphoid tissue. At later stages, when the level of corticosteroids decreases, the lymphoid tissue begins to restore. In adrenalectomized rats, aplasy of the lymphoid tissue begins at later stages (in 3--4 days) because of a decreased amount of corticosteroids in blood. From the data obtained a suggestion is made that under intoxication, devastation of the lymphoid tissue occurs via mediated and direct action of the toxin.