A new experimental model of systemic connective tissue disease in immunized rabbit.

In rabbit, the immumizations with whole Mycobacterium Tuberculosis injected intradermally and its crude cytoplasmic W.S.E. injected intraarticulary induce not only a self-perpetuating synovitis in the stimulated knee but also chronic systemic lesions of connective tissue (non-stimulated knee, both shoulders, aortic artery adventitial valvular endocardium, liver, kidneys and lungs). W.S.E. stimulates precipitating antibody synthesis, skin reaction and lymphoblastic transformation of lymphocytes in vitro. Furthermore, rabbits develop tuberculin skin test and lymphocytic response to P.P.D. The intensity of inflammation in stimulated knee is in direct ratio to intensities of humoral and cellular immunological responses. On the contrary, the incidence of systemic lesions is in inverse ratio to immune responses and intensity of inflammation in stimulated knee.