title: The Schultz-Dale reaction: a review.
abstract: Vascular (pulmonary and hepatic blood vessels) and nonvascular (gastro-intestinal, reproductive and respiratory systems) smooth muscle preparations obtained from specifically sensitized animals of numerous species including man contract to specific antigen in vitro (Schultz-Dale phenomenon). This immunopharmacological technique is a useful tool to demonstrate immediate-type hypersensitivity in actively or passively sensitized tissues and may be used to investigate the nature of the principal pharmacological mediators involved in a particular tissue as well as to screen anti-anaphylactic (anti-allergic) drugs. However, much remains to be investigated on the complex mechanisms of action of antigen, desensitization and resensitization (recovery) of anaphylactic responsiveness.
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens