Elevation of serum haptoglobin in rabbits in response to experimental inflammation.

NORMAL human serum contains sufficient haptoglobin to bind approximately 130 mgm. of haemoglobin per 100 ml. (ref. 1). A number of other mammalian species, including the rabbit, have much lower serum haptoglobin-levels2. In order to have available a plentiful source of rabbit haptoglobin a method was sought by which the normal serum level could be elevated. Observations on patients with various diseases suggested that tissue inflammation might provide a means to this end3. Accordingly, the effect of administering turpentine to rabbits was investigated.