EXTEROCEPTIVE STIMULATION AS A CONTINGENT FACTOR IN THE INDUCTION AND ELICITATION OF DELAYED TYPE HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS TO 1 CHLORO-, 2-4, DINITROBENZENE IN GUINEA PIGS

This study attempted to determine whether a prior period of “stress” would elicit the sensitization reaction of the skin to topically applied chemical agents. A subthreshold concentration of 1-chloro-, 2-4, dinitrobenzene (DNCB) was applied to the skin of 40 guinea-pigs, 20 of which had been subjected to repetitive electrical shocks throughout the previous 15 minutes. They were examined 24 hours later, and were retested with DNCB at another site after 9 days for signs of delayed sensitization. The stressed animals exhibited a more severe contact-reaction (p <. 01) after the induction test and also after the delayed test.