title: Bidder's organ extract induced anaphylaxis in experimental animals.
abstract: Bidder's organ (BO, a vestigeal organ), present in toad Bufo melanostictus (Schenider), is a characteristic feature of all male bufo. Its possible anaphylactic properties are investigated on experimental animals. BO extract produced both in vivo and in vitro anaphylactic reaction in guineapig. Dyspnoea and bronchoconstriction was a major cause of anaphylactic death. Blood histamine level was significantly increased in the anaphylactic animals. BO extract significantly released histamine from chopped lung preparation, an action antagonised by disodium chromoglycate. BO extract degranulated peritoneal mast cell in vitro. Passive cutaneous anaphylactic reactions were enhanced by BO extract and were significantly inhibited by disodium chromoglycate. Anaphylotoxin (identity not known) present in bidder's organ is probably involved in toad defence.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxinology and Experimental Pharmacodynamics, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta, 92, A P C Road, Calcutta 700 009, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
mesh_terms: D000706:Anaphylatoxins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D002025:Bufonidae / Q000276:immunology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006636:Histamine Release; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010323:Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000706:Anaphylatoxins