Experimental study of the effect of 6-methyl-prednisolone on ingestion-microbicidal function activity in dog...

The effect of increasing doses of 6-methyl-prednisolone on the ingestion-microbicidal function activity of dog neutrophils was studied. Histochemical and spectrophotometrical NAT reduction techniques, together with a direct overall method using C. albicans as a test micro-organism were carried out. Samples were analysed 2 and 48 h after inoculation of different doses. The histochemical NAT technique was not very precise, but quantification of responses using the spectrophotometric method revealed that at 48 h.p.i. neutrophil reducing activity declines continuously. At 2 h.p.i. in the first few days of the experiment (i.e. at lower doses), NAT reduction increased, but subsequently fell back to O.D. levels below those recorded at 48 h.p.i. Ingestion and destruction of C. albicans followed the same pattern as that recorded for NAT activity. Simple and differential leukocyte counts performed in all samples revealed leukocytosis (with neutrophilia and lymphopaenia) at 2 h.p.i. This returned to normal levels in the intervals between inoculations.