[Effect of granulocyte factors on the quantitative changes in the peripheral blood lymphocytes in rabbits]

Two groups of rabbits were studied, each consisting of 8 males to whom the sterile Hank's solution (group I) or a solution of the granulocytic factors (group II) were given intravenously. The peripheral blood lymphocytes were counted in the samples of blood taken from the femoral artery before injection and 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after the injection. No effect of injection was seen on the lymphocyte count in the group I. In the group II the lymphocyte count fell as soon as 5 minutes after the administration of the granulocytic factors with the minimum after 20 minutes. Since that moment the lymphocyte count rose but remained still low, in comparison to the starting point after 60 minutes. All the changes were statistically significant throughout the experiment.