[Interrelationship of the serum lysozyme level to the leukocyte count in the blood]

The leucocyte counts in the peripheral blood and titers of the serum lysozyme under conditions of various experimental models were compared. Albino rats, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits exposed to the effect of various factors of a biological and chemical nature were used in the experiments. In addition, observations on humans immunized with bacterial and viral vaccines were analyzed. Development of 3 reaction types was shown to be possible. In the 1st type the dynamics of the lysosome activity and blood leucocyte counts changed in the same way (immunization with smallpox vaccine, listeria infection). Decreased counts of the leucocytes due to the use of cytostatic drugs were accompanied by a parallel decrease in the lysozyme activity. Such variant of the reaction was predominating. The 2nd type of the shifts characterized by an impaired synchronous pattern of the dynamics of the indices was not so frequent (the use of high doses of cytostatics). The 3rd type of the reactions with an exactly opposite character of the shifts in the leucocyte counts and lysozyme activity was observed only as an exclusion. It is concluded that the quantitative dynamics of the leucocytes is not enough by itself for creating an opinion on the nature of the changes in the serum lysozyme. The possible role of macrophages in the above processes is discussed.