Induction of a delayed type hypersensitivity to carrageenin in mice

Induction of delayed type hypersensitivity to carrageenin in mice was investigated with successful results. Male ddY/s mice were immunized with 1 mg of carrageenin 100 microliters of Freund's complete adjuvant-saline (1:1) emulsion and challenged 10 d after the immunization on their footpads with either 10 or 40 micrograms of the antigen in 2.5 microliters of Freund's incomplete adjuvant-saline (1:1) emulsion. The mice exhibited a strong allergic footpad reaction at 24-48 h after the challenge injection. The footpad reaction was successfully transferred with spleen cells. Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, indomethacin, and steroidal antiinflammatory drug, dexamethasone, suppressed the delayed type hypersensitivity reaction.