Leucocytosis induced in rabbits by intravenous or central injection of granulocyte colony stimulating factor

1. We investigated the effect of intravenous, intracerebroventricular and intrapreoptic injections of human recombinant granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) on body temperature and acute phase responses in the rabbit, including changes in the plasma concentration of iron, zinc, copper and fibrinogen and in circulating leucocyte count. 2. Neither intravenous nor intracerebroventricular injection of GCSF had any effect on the body temperature. 3. Both the intravenous and the intracerebroventricular injections of GCSF induced a dose-dependent increase in the circulating leucocyte count but neither affected the plasma concentration of iron, zinc, copper and fibrinogen. Furthermore, intrapreoptic injection of GCSF produced leucocytosis but had no effect on the red blood cell count. 4. The present results suggest that GCSF induces leucocytosis through its action on both the peripheral target organs and the central nervous system.