[The effect of hydrocortisone on neutrophil functional activity]

The male (CBA X C57BL) FI mice received 125 mg of hydrocortisone per kg body weight intraperitoneally. The functional activity of neutrophils has been evaluated by means of nitroblue terazolium test (NBT-test) values taken before or after heat-killed S. marcescens cell stimulation in vitro by 2, 12, 24 h 3, 7 or 14 days post hormonal treatment. Throughout the 1st day after hydrocortisone administration the NBT-test values taken prior to as well as post microbial neutrophil stimulation were steadily increased. This effect could be seen as early as 2 h post hormone administration and it was linked with growing leukopenia and total decrease of blood granulocyte content. By the 3rd day the same very values turned up to become normal. The NBT-test values after microbial stimulation of neutrophils were 1.7 or 2.4 lower after hydrocortisone had been added to blood in vitro in a dose 3.5 X 10(-6) M or 7 X 10(-5) M.