Delayed contact hypersensitivity in the vagina and skin of the guinea pig

A new method was developed to permit the contact of haptens exclusively with the vaginal mucosal surfaces of the guinea pig. The method described has some unique characteristics that make it potentially useful, not only for studies of the immune response but also for other areas of toxicologic concern. Utilizing this approach it was demonstrated that delayed contact hypersensitivity was as readily produced in the vagina as it was in the skin. Grossly, the vaginas of sensitized animals appeared normal when challenged with a non-irritating concentration of hapten but, histologically, a perivascular lymphocytic cuffing, that is the hallmark of the delayed hypersensitivity response, was demonstrated.