[Immunopotentiation by OK-432 ointment to apply to the mouse abdominal skin]

The immunopotentiating effect of a streptococcal preparation, OK-432 (Picibanil), mixed with an ointment based Lanolin, was examined. The mixture was applied to mouse abdomen. The effect of OK-432 ointment was compared with those of OK-432 ip and sc. The leucocyte count in the abdominal cavity increased in 3.6 x 10(6) and 12.5 x 10(6) on the 3rd day after ointment application and ip injection of 5 KE OK-432, respectively. The result indicated that OK-432-Lanolin applied to the abdominal skin wall affected the abdominal cavity. IL-6 and IFN-gamma in the abdominal cavity increased in 1.4 ng and 9 ng, respectively, after applying 5 KE OK-432 ointment. From these results the treatment with OK-432 ointment on the abdominal skin exhibited an immunomodulatory effect on the abdominal cavity.