. Infection, immunity and serum therapy : in relation to the infectious diseases of man . ation with its constitu-ents, and it is a fundamental tenet of the Ehrlichtheory that this union is one which takes placebetween the toxin and a cell receptor (side-chain).The cell receptor, then, either is a haptophore orpossesses a haptophore as a part of its complex. As the physiologic demands are probably re-sponsible for the character of the various recep-tors, it is not likely that special receptors arecreated when some unusual substance, as a bac-terial toxin, is introduced into the body. Conse-que
. Infection, immunity and serum therapy : in relation to the infectious diseases of man . ation with its constitu-ents, and it is a fundamental tenet of the Ehrlichtheory that this union is one which takes placebetween the toxin and a cell receptor (side-chain).The cell receptor, then, either is a haptophore orpossesses a haptophore as a part of its complex. As the physiologic demands are probably re-sponsible for the character of the various recep-tors, it is not likely that special receptors arecreated when some unusual substance, as a bac-terial toxin, is introduced into the body. Conse-quently, when toxin unites with a cell, it probablyoccupies receptors which, under normal circum-stances, are employed in some physiologic some inert, non-toxic substance should com-bine extensively with cells, a corresponding num- RECEPTORS. 201 ber of receptors, which ordinarily are used fornormal metabolism, would be thrown out of func-tion. Union of this nature would be equivalentto an injury of the cell, and it is possible that theaction of toxoids is of this mild Fig. 5.—Graphic representation of receptors of the firstorder and of toxin uniting with the cell receptor, a, Cellreceptor; 6, toxin molecule; c, haptophore of toxin mole-cule ; d, toxophore of toxin molecule; e, haptophore of thecell receptor. From Ehrlichs Schlussbetrachtungen,Nothnagels System of Medicine, vol. viii. This cut is notto be taken as representing the actual morphology of toxinsor cell receptors. Nothing is known of their morphology,if, indeed, they have any. The cut is intended merely torepresent, in a graphic manner, the supposed chemicalstructure and mode of action of these substances. Thisstatement applies also to Figures 6 and 7. When toxin unites with cells there is involvednot only the diversion of cell receptors from theircustomary functions, but in addition the destruc-tive action of the toxin on the vital parts of the cell 202 INFECTION AND IMMUNITY. (perhaps on the Lei
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