ABSTRACT
Endotoxin is a historical term for high-molecular substances from gram-negative bacteria. The name indicates that endotoxin is a constitutive part of a bacterial cell which, when applied to an organism, induces pathological changes. A number of theoretical as well as practical reasons have led to the development of procedures for endotoxin detoxification. Man is probably the most sensitive species to pathological and pharmacological effects of endotoxins. Experimental animals respond to higher doses of endotoxin by exhibiting shock which may lead to death. Endotoxin binds a minimal quantity of Cl, C4, C2 components, while the reactivity with C3 and terminal components of the complement system is relatively high. Antibodies against endotoxin were first detected in the serum and then on cellular level only after the development of the plaque-forming assay which enables the estimation of individual antibody secreting lymphatic cells. Endotoxins can nonspecific ally influence the course of infection.
