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Oncolysis by Clostridia. IV. Effect of Nonpathogenic Clostridial Spores in Normal and Pathological Tissues

( Merck Institute for Therapeutic Research Rahway, New Jersey)

Localization and germination of intravenously injected spores of nonpathogenic clostridia have been demonstrated in necrotic areas in kidney infarcts, in tubercular lesions, and in CaCl₂-induced necroses. Liquefaction of necrotic tissue, but not of any viable tissue, was observed in the kidney infarcts and the CaCl₂ lesions but not in the tubercular lesions. There was no indication of toxin production by any of the clostridial species tested. The quantitative differences between the effects of spores on necrotic areas in normal tissues and in malignant tissues are discussed. Intravenous injection of spores of nonpathogenic clostridia produced a moderate pyrogenic response in rabbits. There was no evidence that this response is a property of the spores per se or had any effect on oncolysis by spores. The intravenous injection of very large doses of spores into normal mice did not produce gross or microscopic pathological effects, except and moderate enlargement of the spleen. Retention of small numbers of clostridia in liver and spleen has been demonstrated for as long as 8 weeks after a single injection of a large number of spores.

Received 6/16/63.

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