In Vitro Studies on Delayed Allergy to Pine Pollen

Conclusions

Guinea pigs were sensitized by injections of whole or ground pine pollen or extracts of pollen incorporated into incomplete or complete Freund adjuvant. Intradermal tests and macrophage inhibition tests were carried out to detect delayed hypersensitivity to pollen and tuberculin. Sensitization with pollen antigen in complete Freund adjuvant resulted in dermal and cellular sensitivity to pollen and tuberculin. With other methods of sensitization dermal sensitivity to pine pollen was present in a certain proportion of animals the first few weeks after injection. With one exception, cellular sensitivity to pollen extract was restricted to the first month of sensitization. It was concluded that lipids present in whole pollen did not act as adjuvant to induce delayed allergy to pollen proteins.