Action of Bacterial Toxins on Respiration of Chicken Erythrocytes ∗

Summary

1. Chicken erythrocytes were exposed to various bacterial toxins for several hours and the rate of oxygen consumption was measured at 37°C

2. Toxins from Clostridium perfringens appeared to increase the rate of oxygen consumption initially even though they hemolyzed the cells. After several hours a decrease was observed.

3. Toxins from Clostridium septicurn had little effect on the rate of oxygen consumption.

4. Toxins from Clostridium tetani apparently increased the rate of oxygen consumption for a period of more than 24 hours.

5. Toxins from Bacillus cereus had little effect, but slight acceleration of oxygen consumption was noted in most of the experiments.

6. Toxins from Micrococcus pyogenes, Var. aureus increased the rate of oxygen consumption during the first hour. This was followed by hemolysis of the cells and almost complete inhibition of respiration.

7. Toxins from Corynebacterium diphtheriae increased the rate of oxygen consumption slightly during the first hour. This was followed by a gradual decrease in rate until after 11 hours then there was complete inhibition.

8. Toxins from Streptococcus pyogenes markedly inhibited the rate of oxygen consumption although there was no hemolysis.