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The Effects of Tumor Growth, Nutritional Stress, and Inflammation on Serum Complement Levels in the Rat^*

Henry E. Weimer, James N. Miller, Roberta L. Meyers, David Baxter, Dorothy M. Roberts, James F. Godfrey and Charles M. Carpenter

( Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California)

The effects of growth of the Walker 256 carcinosarcoma on hemolytic complement activity in adult, male, Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated. A premortal rise in complement levels was observed. In attempts to elucidate the mechanism of this increase, the influences of inanition, food restriction, protein depletion, turpentine-induced inflammation, and bacterial infection were studied. Increased complement titers were found in a starved group and in a semi-starved group following weight losses of 12 and 26 per cent, respectively. Feeding a protein-free diet caused decreased complement activity. Experimental inflammation caused a rapid and sustained increase in complement titers. A comparison was made of electrophoretic patterns, fibrinogen and seromucoid levels for the groups exhibiting increased hemolytic complement activity. No discernible correlations were apparent. The results are discussed with respect to the possible causes for alterations in complement activity.

^* Supported in part by Research Grant C-2368 and Contract SA-43-ph-2436 from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service.

Medical Student Summer Fellow, Public Health Service Cancer Teaching Grant.

Present address: School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Calif.

Received 12/28/63.