An ultrastructural analysis of the vascular damage in the lethal and sublethal Forssman reaction in the guinea-pig.

The involvement of the complement system and platelets in the sublethal Forssman reaction in the guinea pig has been studied together with the ultrastructural changes observed in the endothelial cells of the pulmonary vasculature. The main ultrastructural change noted was swelling of the endothelium. This did not occur in thrombocytopenic animals or in decomplemented animals, indicating the importance of both platelets and the complement pathways in this reaction. The platelet inhibitors sulphinpyrazone or aspirin had no effect on endothelial swelling in the sublethal reaction. In the lethal reaction the degree of endothelial cell damage was more severe and included lesions in the cell membrane, lifting, necrosis and finally exposure of the basement membrane. This damage only occurred in animals with an intact complement cascade.