Prevention of reaginic antibody production and anaphylactic gastric ulcer by pesticides and by a polychlorinated biphenyl

Abstract The effects of different pesticides, lindane, phosalone, and carbaryl, and of one polychlorinated biphenyl, pyralene, were studied on the development of reaginic antibody production and the formation of allergic gastric ulceration in Mastomys natalensis following prior sensitization and subsequent challenge with ovalbumin. The results indicate that lindane, phosalone, and pyralene have a pronounced suppressive effect on type 1 hypersensitivity reaction when ingested orally. These results give further cause for concern about the hazards to health which might result from continued indiscriminate use of such substances.