Factors affecting experimental infection with Cryptococcus neoformans in mice with special reference to an endotoxic substance of C. neoformans.

A close correlation was observed between body weight and length of the survival time of mice inoculated intravenously (i.v.) with Cryptococcus neoformans (p less than 0.001). An endotoxic substance of C. neoformans (Cr-ET) increased the susceptibility of mice to i.v. infection of C. neoformans only when more than 50 mug of Cr-ET was injected i.v. 24 hours before infection. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of dimethyl sulfoxide which is found to enhance bacterial infection did not enhance death rate of mice infected i.p. with C. neoformans.